With Cyclone Gaja creating havoc, CM Palaniswami announces relief package of Rs 1000 Cr

Chennai, November 20: The relief operations in Tamil Nadu are underway as cyclone Gaja created havoc in many districts causing death of at least 45 people. Accounting a sustainable relief work, Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami announced a relief package of Rs 1,000 crore. The Chief Minister is also expected to visit the affected areas on Tuesday.

 

Earlier, Palaniswami had announced that the government would give Rs 10 lakh each to the kin of the deceased as well as Rs 1 lakh each to those severely injured because of the storm. Those who suffered minor injuries would get Rs 25,000 as compensation.

Apart from the 45 lives lost due to the storm, 700 livestock were also killed and almost 56,000 huts were also damaged and another 30,000 house suffered partial damages, CM Palaniswami said, adding that due compensation would also be given for them.

CM Palaniswami said that more than 2 lakh people had been evacuated and had been given shifted to 493 relief camps. Apart from this, 472 medical camps and 1014 mobile medical camps have also been set up by the administration to provide treatment to the injured and sick, the Times of India quoted the CM as saying.

EPS, as the chief minister is popularly known as, is also expected to call on Prime Minister Narendra Modi on November 22 and brief him about the relief operations and the ground situation in the state. The Tamil Nadu government is likely to seek funds from the Centre for restoration work.

Cyclone Gaja crossed Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coast between Nagapattinam and Vedaranniyam on Thursday last week, causing severe damage in various districts including, Tiruvarur and Thanjavur.