Normalcy yet to be restored in Gaja-hit districts

Tamil Nadu was lashed with heavy rains on Wednesday due to a well-marked low-pressure area over the Bay of Bengal, even as the situation in districts affected by Cyclone ‘Gaja’ remained grim for the sixth consecutive day.

Several parts of Tamil Nadu, including Chennai, received moderate to heavy rainfall since Tuesday night, prompting authorities to declare holiday for schools and colleges in many districts. The IMD has forecast rains for the entire state for the next two days due to the well-marked low pressure.

“Under its influence, fairly widespread rainfall with isolated heavy to very heavy showers are likely over Tamil Nadu and Puducherry during the next two days,” the MeT office here said.

In Nagapattinam and Tiruvarur, worst affected districts due to Cyclone Gaja, the situation remained grim. Electricity is yet to be restored in several villages even as the government is arranging generator sets to ensure that they get drinking water.

Governor Banwarilal Purohit met with victims in Nagapattinam district and said all basic facilities will be restored in the affected areas within the next two days.