The severe cyclonic storm ‘Gaja’ crossed between the Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coast on early Friday, a weather bulletin said.
Over 70,000 people were evacuated from low lying areas and sheltered at over 300 relief centres in six districts including Nagapattinam, Pudukottai, Ramanathapuram and Tiruvarur, Tamil Nadu State Disaster Management Authority said.
Holiday has been declared at educational institutions in Nagapattinam due to Cyclone Gaja.
Several trees were uprooted in Nagapattinam in the overnight rainfall and strong winds which hit the town.
A team of NDRF is carrying out clearance work in the area.
According to a weather bulletin, the severe cyclonic storm ‘Gaja’ over coastal Tamil Nadu got weakened and moved nearly westwards and lay centred over coastal Tamil Nadu at Atirampattinam.
A red alert was issued for the administration in parts of Tamil Nadu to mobilise resources to meet any eventuality.
Schools and colleges will remain closed in various districts of Tamil Nadu.
The Anna University has also postponed its exams.
The IMD said in the latest bulletin, “the severe cyclonic storm is very likely to move nearly westwards and weaken gradually into a cyclonic storm during next few hours.”
