Central team visits cyclone-hit Cuddalore

Cuddalore, Tamil Nadu: A Central team today visited the cyclone Thane hit Cuddalore district in Tamil Nadu to assess the damage and said it would submit its report in three days. The nine-member inter-ministerial team led by joint secretary in Union home ministry Lokesh Jha, toured various localities devastated by the severe storm that crossed the coast near Cuddalore on 30 December . District collector V Amudhavalli accompanied the team.[caption id=“attachment_176866” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“Tough life on the shores. Reuters”]  [/caption] The district bore the brunt of the cyclone fury which claimed 39 lives, cut-off the electricity supply and caused extensive damage to crops. Talking to reporters at Melmampattu village after visiting the affected areas, Jha said the total loss suffered due to the cyclone had not yet been finalised by the district administration. He said the team, which on Sunday conducted on-the-spot assessment of the situation in Puducherry, also affected by the cyclone, would submit its report to the Central government in three days. He said the entire Cuddalore district had been badly hit by the cyclone. The team members were informed by villagers that houses and crops, including cashew and jackfruit trees, on large extent of land had been destroyed. Jha said the central electricity division would help the state government in restoring power supply in the district, where thousands of electric poles were uprooted by the gale force wind. The affected people also pleaded with the central team that they be provided with houses that could withstand rains and cyclone. The team comprised representatives of the ministries and departments of agriculture, drinking water, finance, health, power, road transport and highways, rural development, water resources, Planning Commission and National Disaster Management Authority. PTI