2 dead in cyclone Gaja

Two people lost their lives and one suffered serious injuries due to cyclone Gaja that made a landfall in Tamil Nadu on Thursday.

While Annandan (40) got electrocuted in Kurinchipadi in Cuddalore district, the Ayyamal M. Mathur died when a wall collapsed on her. Mathur's husband Ramachandran got critically injured in the incident.

Meanwhile, Disaster Management incharge Gagandeep Singh Bedi told ANI that they have sent more than 2500 officers with mechanical equipment in the state to remove the fallen trees and other disruptions.

"Roads are damaged. Crops have also been destroyed and electricity has also been cut off. We have cautioned the public about road damages. Restoring electricity is our main priority. Crop damage estimation will be undertaken after two to three days after water recedes," Bedi said.

The cyclonic storm crossed Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coast between Nagapattinam and Vedaranniyam on Thursday evening and unleashed mayhem in several districts of the state including Nagapattinam, Tiruvarur and Thanjavur.

In the wake of the situation, a red alert has been issued in parts of the state.