After cyclone Gaja made landfall around midnight, there has been widespread rain in the southern districts of Tamil Nadu. As a precaution, Collectors in the southern districts have declared holiday for schools and colleges. Exams scheduled by the universities in the region too have been postponed.
There was a small landslide over a stretch between Kodaikanal and Palani ghat section. Poles and a couple of trees had been uprooted. Dindigul District Collector T. G. Vinay told The Hindu that rains continued and as a precaution, power has been disconnected. Many low lying areas were inundated. So far, we have not received any distress calls and no casualty has been reported in the district, he added. Power connection has been switched off in TANGEDCO sub-stations in Ramanathapuram and Thoothukudi. Already, the fishermen were cautioned not to venture into the sea, said K. Veera Raghava Rao, Collector Ramanathapuram district. Many staff in the control room set up in the districts said that they have been getting calls from people about the rain situation and enquiries related to closure of schools and colleges. Madurai District Collector S. Natarajan said that following intermittent rains in the district, the temporary shelters are kept in ready mode and in the event of inundation, people would be moved swiftly.
Theni Collector M. Pallavi Baldev said that all staff and officials exclusively designated for handling the situation have been on the field. “So far, we haven't received any distress calls. The forecast is that we may have heavy to very heavy rainfall through the day and we are prepared to take care of the situation,” she added.
