Cyclone toll 47; major roads cleared

The severe cyclonic storm has claimed 40 lives in Tamil Nadu. Besides Cuddalore,deaths have been reported from Villupuram,Tiruvallur,Kancheepuram,Chennai and Theni. Seven people died in Puducherry.

Puducherry Chief Minister N Rangasamy said the loss is being estimated at over Rs 2,000 crore and a detailed report would be submitted to the Centre soon.

Meanwhile,it was a forgettable New Year dawn for the people as more than 18,000 in Cuddalore district and scores in Puducherry continued to be sheltered in government buildings,including schools,and marriage halls where they were being provided food and other essential items.

Officials said 90 per cent of affected roads in Cuddalore district had been cleared for traffic,adding 20,000 litres of petrol have been despatched from Nagapattinam.

Supply of essential items such as milk and fuel,including kerosene,would normalised within two days while water and power would be restored within a week,they said. A report from Puducherry said the union territory was limping back to normalcy though drinking water and power supply was not fully restored in most places and the work on removing uprooted trees was underway.

Availability of milk continued to be affected but petrol supply has become normal. An average 60,000 food packets prepared at central kitchens was being distributed daily to the people hit by the cyclone,officials said.

Over 100 tanker lorries from Neyveli Lignite Corporation and Nellikuppam sugar factory besides those of the civic bodies had been pressed into service to provide water.

They said Samba paddy crop on 20,000 hectares,due for harvest next week,in Chidambaram and Kattumanarkoil taluks had been submerged under water while cashew and jackfruit trees on 15,000 acres in Panruti taluk suffered damage.

Educational institutions will continue to remain closed for two days from Monday as the cyclone ravaged people are accommodated in most of the school premises,sources said.

PC cancels Puducherry visit
Puducherry: Home Minister P Chidambaram,who was scheduled to tour cyclone-ravaged villages in Puducherry on Sunday,has cancelled his visit due to inclement weather. Chidambaram will now inspect the areas on Tuesday,Union Minister of State in the PMO V Narayanasamy said.