Monday, January 2, 2012

Cyclone Thane hits Pondicherry

The “very severe” cyclonic storm “Thane” hit Puducherry on early Friday morning with a devastating force killing seven persons, including a two-year-old child and two women, and left behind a trail of destruction to public and private property.

As it passed the coastal Puducherry and the sea-side Cuddalore town and villages, the cyclone vented its fury, uprooting trees and electric posts. Power supply had been cut 12 hours ahead of the expected cyclone landfall. “Damages are extensive in Puducherry. Several main roads and interior streets from Puducherry looked like a war zone, strewn with uprooted trees and electric posts. All forms of communications were disrupted.

Many hotels were forced to cancel New Year celebrations. Relief operations were launched on war-footing to bring back normalcy in the affected areas. Chief Minister N Rangasamy announced a relief of Rs 2 lakh to the families of the deceased.