The State administration is devoting its attention to the restoration of life in Cuddalore district, which has witnessed extensive damage following the very severe cyclone, Thane, which crossed the coast on Friday morning.
Since the onset of the cyclonic storm, Cuddalore saw the death of 26 persons. The electricity distribution network is worst hit and all efforts are on to restore the supply throughout the district in a phased manner, say officials. The impact of the cyclone was such that hundreds of power poles had been uprooted. An official in the Revenue department conceded the number may be in thousands. Besides, the supply of water, milk, diesel and kerosene has been affected.
As many as 27 relief camps have been set up in the district. Though 7,500 persons are taking food from the camps, 6,000 persons are staying there as the remaining persons go back to their damaged houses to take care of their belongings, the official says.
In view of the grave situation, five senior officers of the Indian Administrative Service have been deputed to oversee relief works, apart from four officers of the district rural development agencies and 11 Deputy Collectors and revenue divisional officers from other districts.
Utmost priority is being attached to the resumption of power supply. About 100 officials of the Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation are working overtime to attend to the resumption of the supply.
For water supply, diesel generators are being utilised to draw water through combined water supply projects. Chennai Metrowater and Neyveli Lignite Corporation have made available 23 of their mobile water lorries with the Cuddalore administration. Besides, about 10 water lorries have been requisitioned from Tiruchi.
‘Aavin' (Tamil Nadu Co-operative Milk Producers' Federation) has supplied 2,000 litres of milk to the cyclone-ravaged district. As for fuel, three or four petrol pumps have started functioning on Saturday.
To tide over the present problem of shortage, the authorities have supplied 145 kilo litres of diesel and 132 KL of kerosene to Cuddalore.
The total human toll in the State since the onset of the cyclone rose to 35. Apart from 26 in Cuddalore, two persons each died in Villupuram and Tiruvallur; three in Kancheepuram and one each in Chennai and Theni.
Officials of the Municipal Administration department are busy making arrangements for removal of debris and garbage while those of the Highways Department have cleared all blocks to major roads.
