Forty-three fishermen
are reported missing after a cyclone tore across India’s southern
state of Tamil Nadu on Wednesday (November 29) afternoon. The cyclone
accompanied by gale force winds of over 130 kms/hr and heavy rains
caused widespread damage to crops, livestock and infrastructure in
Cuddalore district and neighbouring Pondicherry, affecting around
25,000 families.
Police
report that road traffic has been paralysed, with all links to the
town of Cuddalore cut. Some reports of disrupted rail movement have
also been received. Officials and witnesses in Cuddalore, which bore
the brunt of the storm, said the afternoon’s gale-force winds had
given way to a downpour in the evening.
Earlier
Wednesday, residents said they had been forced to stay indoors as
fierce winds, thunder and lighting marked the storm’s passage inland,
uprooting trees and ripping off palm thatch roofs of huts. The State
Government evacuated people from all the low-lying areas and they
are now staying in relief camps opened up in schools and colleges.
Based on the risk map of the area and the demographic profile, approximately
25,000 families have been affected (if not more) in both Pondichery,
Cuddalore and neighbouring areas as all the low-lying coastal areas
have been inundated by the sea surge and roads are blocked with fallen
trees.
ACT member, Churches
Auxiliary for Social Action (CASA), has since submitted
an Appeal for US$ 105,000 to assist the most vulnerable of the affected
population with clothing, blankets, kitchen utensils and food commodities.
