Cyclone Gaja: Rahul urges Congress workers to help people in need

As the cyclonic storm Gaja is approaching towards southern coast, Congress party president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday urged all his party workers and leaders in the affected areas to help all those in need of assistance.

Cyclone Gaja is approaching the south eastern coast of Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Andhra Pradesh. All necessary precautions have been made by the state to avoid damage.

All fishing activities have been suspended, the Indian Navy has been put on high alert.

Earlier in the day, Cuddalore Member of Lesgislative Assembly (MLA) MC Sambath held a review meeting with collector V. Anbuselvan and Disaster Management incharge Gagandeep Singh Bedi along with the rescue teams.

Speaking to ANI, Bedi today said, "It is expected that Gaja cyclone will make a landfall late tonight, maybe in south of Cuddalore in Nagapattinam district. People should be well prepared. The government is making its best efforts in this regard."

The state administration has formed as many as 19 interdepartmental zonal teams for rescue and relief operations, comprising officers from key departments of police, fire, Public Works Department, electricity department, etc.

The Indian Navy has also sent its ship to the coastal region to help the rescue teams. The Southern Railways has cancelled two trains from Rameswaram to Madurai and Trichy for the day.

The India Meteorological Department in statment said, "It (Gaja) is found to be laying centred at about 410 kilometres south-east of Chennai and 450 kilometres northeast of Nagapattinam. It is moving at a speed of 10 kilometres an hour in the last six hours.