Premium

Opinion 40 years ago November 14, 1985: Cyclonic storm hits Madras

This is the front page of The Indian Express published on November 14, 1985.

November 14, 2025 06:54 AM IST First published on: Nov 14, 2025 at 06:38 AM IST

Madras city and the neighbouring Chengalpet district lay crippled as continuous downpour in the wake of a cyclonic storm left 63 people dead, more than 300,000 homeless and caused extensive damage as the Army, the Navy and the Coast Guard got cracking on rescue and relief operations.

Rebuilding Akal Takht

G S Tohra, president, Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, reiterated his resolve to rebuild the Akal Takht, temporal seat of the Sikh religion, with the participation of the Sikh masses, which would then embody Sikh culture and heritage. Tohra, who was addressing a huge congregation from Darshani Deori within the Golden Temple complex on Diwali night, reaffirmed that the SGPC was contemplating steps to demolish and reconstruct the Akal Takht.

Caste feud in Bihar

At least a dozen persons were lynched or gunned down and all the 200 houses in Lakshimpur and Ghashpur villages in Taufir panchayat, about 10 km from Munger, were burnt to ashes in a clash between people of two castes, according to a delayed report received in Munger. Police recovered five bodies, which were thrown into the Ganga. An official report in Patna said at least 20 persons had been arrested in this connection.

Power struggle in Liberia

Troops loyal to the Liberian head of state, Samuel Doe, have foiled a coup staged by rebels led by an exiled officer who helped him seize power five years ago, the private radio station Elwa said. There was no independent confirmation. Doe said on television that he had crushed the coup. Both sides claimed in broadcasts that they held power but the diplomats contacted from Washington and the Ivory Coast said the outcome was unclear.

49 Tamils killed in Sri Lanka

Forty-nine Tamil civilians were killed when the Sri Lanka Air Force bombed several villages in the Jaffna province in the past two days, according to information reaching the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) office in Madras. Sri Lanka security forces surrounded and bombed Mudur, Thambu and Kataiparicha villages killing eight Tamils, the LTTE sources said.