The New Indian Express
27 November 2008
NAGAPATTINAM:
Nature unleashed havoc in Nagapattinam and Karaikal districts on Wednesday.
Heavy rainfall and gusty winds claimed three lives in Nagapattinam besides flooding the dwellings and driving over 78,000 people to 308 cyclone-relief centres. A ship anchored at Tirukkadaiyur port got drifted into the sea towards Tarangambadi.
As the cyclonic storm ‘Nisha’ got nearer, the coastal areas started receiving heavy rains and strong winds. The total rainfall recorded at 8.30 am stood at 2145 mm, with Vedaranyam registering the highest of 333 mm. Meanwhile, when reports came in last, the cyclone was expected to cross the coast beween Cuddalore and Nagapattinam around midnight, according to the District Collector.
The district administration evacuated 78,000 people to places of safety. Speaking to reporters, Nagapattinam District Collector Jayaraman said four persons, one of them belonging to Vaitheeswarankoil, had lost their lives in the district. A ship owned by a private construction company engaged in the works related to the Pillaiperumalnallur (PPN) power generating station near Tirukkadaiyur drifted towards Tarangambadi due to strong wind action.
CUDDALORE:
Over six lakh people were affected by the torrential rainfall in the coastal district on Wednesday as more than 50,000 houses were inundated, paddy and sugarcane crops raised on two lakh acres submerged and power transmission crippled for more than 15 hours in the district. The rainfall accompanied by strong wind uprooted more than 1,000 roadside trees. Four persons died in separate incidents on Wednesday.
PAMBAN:
While torrential rain continued to lash different parts of the Ramanathapuram district on Wednesday, the fifth cyclone warning signal was hoisted at Pamban port office. About 175 boats across the district were damaged. Revenue Minister I Periyasamy said the district administration has sought Rs 27 lakhs to compensate for the damaged boats, which would be disbursed soon.
TIRUCHY:
A woman who took shelter from rain under a temple wall died when the wall collapsed on her in Alampattiputhur near Tiruchy on Wednesday. According to police, Meenakshi (51), wife of Muthu of Alampattiputhur in Inamkulathur, went to get water from the panchayat drinking water tank around noon. As it was raining, she took shelter under a wall of the Vinayagar temple, leaving her pot to fill. Within a few seconds, the concrete wall collapsed on her and killed her instantly.
Bharathidasan University (BARD) has postponed both UG and PG semester examinations scheduled to be held on November 26 and 27 to December 5 and 6 respectively.
Besides, the examination for B Ed to be conducted on November 26 and 27 were postponed to December 1 and 2, said a press release issued by the Controller of Examinations on Wednesday. Anna University (AU), Tiruchy has postponed the examinations to be held from November 26 to November 28.
PUDUKKOTTAI:
As many as 11 cyclone protection centres have been alerted and kept in a state of readiness, said Pudukkottai District Collector Reeta Harish Thakkar on Wednesday.