The official death toll from Cyclone Gaja was put at 45 on Sunday. While relief, restoration and damage assessment works were under way, there were sporadic protests in Nagapattinam.
Handlooms Minister O.S. Manian had to be escorted to safety when he was mobbed by protesters, upset over the pace of relief operations.
Facing flak from the Opposition, Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami explained that he did not tour the affected districts as arrangements for his official engagements in Salem and Namakkal had been made.
Eleven Ministers and 24 senior IAS officials were on the ground, Mr. Palaniswami said.
The Chief Minister will chair a meeting at the Secretariat on Monday morning to review the relief operations.
