Cyclone Thane

The devastating ‘Thane’ Cyclone that dumped heavy rain and sent wind gusts up to 140 kmph on Friday Dec 30,2011 has left behind a trail of destruction and threw life out of gear in Cuddalore district and adjacent Union Territory of Puducherry. Around 40 persons have been killed.

'Cyclone Thane' crossed the coast between Cuddalore and Puducherry around 6.30 am on Friday with wind speeds  of 120 km per hour, leaving a trail of destruction and taking a toll of at least 28 lives, uprooting lakhs of trees and damaging roads, fishing boats and houses, besides snapping electricity and communication lines, thus disrupting normal life.
Cuddalore, about 170 km from Chennai on the east coast, bore the brunt of the cyclonic fury, accounting for 21 deaths, Puducherry(seven), Villupuram and Tiruvallur(two each) and Chennai(one)in rain-related incidents mainly wall collapse and electrocution.
TN CM Jayalalithaa said the cyclone claimed 26 lives in 4 districts in the state and released Rs 150 crore for immediate relief works.
The cyclone also disrupted rail and air operations with services cancelled or rescheduled.
Flights to international destinations including the middle-east and Malaysia from Chennai were cancelled following the inclement weather.


Chennai Marina Beach on Friday Dec 30,2011

A Merchant Ship after it ran aground due to gusty winds in the wake of severe cyclonic storm 'Thane' at Marina Beach in Chennai

 In Puducherry, trees, traffic signal poles, lampposts and hoardings were found strewn on roads, making vehicular traffic flow a near impossibility.

 

Damages on the sea front due to gusty winds in the wake of severe cyclonic storm 'Thane' in Pondicherry

 




Cuddalore was completely cut-off as uprooted trees blocked roads, obstructing movement of vehicles

 

Read more at: http://www.ndtv.com/article/tamil-nadu/cyclone-thane-leaves-trail-of-destruction-162321&cp

In Neyveli Lignite Corporation township, two lakh trees were reported to have been uprooted. Power generation was cut drastically from 2,200 MW to 80 MW after feeder lines were severed.

Cyclone Thane on Saturday Dec 31,2011, weakened after the depression over north Tamil Nadu close to Salem moved westwards and weakened further into well marked low pressure area over north Kerala and neighbourhood .

Rs 700 Cr Relief Package for 'CycloneThane' Battered Areas

TN CM Jayalalithaa on Tuesday Jan 03,2012 announced a Rs 700 crore package to provide immediate succour to Cyclone Thane ravaged areas as authorities stepped up relief work and efforts to bring back normalcy.The amount is in addition to Rs 150 crore released for immediate relief work, including putting back in shape badly damaged infrastructure in the coastal district of Cuddalore, most devastated by the cyclone last week, which claimed 47 lives in the state and neighboring Puducherry. 

Of the Rs 700 crore package, Rs 300 crore is for the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board to restore power supply, Rs 166 crore for damaged crops, Rs 114 crore to repair damaged huts, Rs 50 crore to supply drinking water, Rs 20 crore to repair fishing boats and Rs 50 crore for miscellaneous expenditure.

The CM said her Government would also pay enhanced compensation of Rs 10,000 per hectare for damaged paddy fields, Rs 9,000 per hectare for jackfruit and cashew nut crops and Rs 7,500 per hectare for irrigated crops.

Rs. 500-crore Cyclone Relief From Centre 

PM Manmohan Singh has announced an interim relief of Rs. 500 crore to TN and Rs. 125 crore to Puducherry to augment relief operations being undertaken by the respective governments for those affected by Cyclone Thane . The interim relief was based on preliminary reports. A Central government team is visiting the affected areas and final relief would be given on the basis of ground assessment report.