Tamil Nadu government tonight said a total of three persons have lost their lives in the cyclone "Vardah" related incidents in the state and announced a solatium of Rs four lakh each to the next of the kin of their families.
"Three persons have lost their lives in the Cyclone Vardah related incidents", Chief Minister O Pannerselvam said in a statement here.
Expressing deep condolences to the bereaved family members, the Chief Minister said "a sum of Rs four lakh each will be given from the State Disaster Relief Fund".
Very severe cyclonic storm 'Vardah', the most intense to have hit the Tamil Nadu capital flattened homes, snapped communication lines and threw into disarray rail, road and air traffic as it crossed the coast here, pounding Chennai, Tiruvallur and Kanchipuram with heavy rain and squall.
Detailing some of the measures taken by the government, he said, "10,932 people from Chennai, Kancheepuram and Thiruvallur districts were evacuated and have been safely accommodated in 97 relief camps".
Stating that 13 senior IAS officers were sent to Kancheepuram, Thiruvallur and Villupuram to monitor relief and precautionary measures, he said, 16 officials were monitoring the relief efforts in Chennai and six NDRF teams for Chennai, Thiruvallur and Kancheepuram districts were kept on standby.
The services of Army and other Central forces were also requested, he said.
Noting that winds at the time of Cyclone crossing the coast reached up to 130 km per hour, he said power supply at various places have been affected.
"Nearly 4,000 personnel from state electricity board are continuously working to restore power supply. However, it is expected to take one or two days to restore (the power supply) in North Chennai, Kancheepuram and Thiruvallur districts", he said.
On the steps taken to provide medical emergencies, he said 100 mobile medical teams have been formed, and added that 113 ambulances have been kept on standby in Chennai, Kancheepuram and Thiruvallur districts.
About 4,000 trees have been uprooted in the cyclone, he said, adding, 275 electric wood cutters and more than 100 earth movers were removing them.
About 8,400 workers were involved in removing the uprooted trees and a major portion of them removed, he said.
In order to monitor the relief measures, he said a team of six Ministers each have been sent to Chennai, Thiruvallur and Kancheepuram districts, respectively.
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