Gaja likely to cross TN coast early hours Friday: IMD
63,000 People Evacuated
Chennai, Nov 15: Cyclone 'Gaja' is very likely to cross the Tamil Nadu coast between Pamban and Cuddalore, South of Nagapattinam by early hours of Friday as a severe cyclonic storm with a wind speed of 90-100 kmph gusting to 110 kmph, a weather bulletin said Thursday night.
The state government, which has put its machinery in full alert in vulnerable districts, said a total of 63,203 people have been evacuated and housed in 331 relief centres in six districts including Cuddalore and Nagapattinam.
Earlier, an India Meteorological Department bulletin at 7.50 pm said the outer band of the system has already entered the coast and rainfall has commenced over coastal areas of Tamil Nadu.
A holiday has been declared for educational institutions in seven districts, including Nagapattinam, Tiruvarur, Cuddalore and Ramanathapuram, and the government has advised private firms, and establishments to send back their employees early so that they could reach their homes before 4 pm.
As the sea was rough, police have been advised to intensify efforts to bar people from going near beaches to witness the cyclone or click selfies.
Four teams each of National Disaster Response Force personnel have been deployed in Nagapattinam district while two teams of the state disaster response force in Cuddalore district, officials said.
The state disaster management authority has released an animated video aimed at creating awareness on the do's and don'ts during cyclone.
The government has announced helpline numbers 1070 (state-level) and 1077 (districts) for those who may need assistance.
In view of the cyclone, the Southern Railway announced cancellation of four trains, including three from here to destinations in Nagapattinam, Thiruvarur and Thanjavur districts, scheduled for departure Thursday.
It also diverted four express trains bound for southern districts, a release said.
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Telangana govt honours actor Chiranjeevi with NTR National Film Award
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Hyderabad (PTI): In a star-studded ceremony, Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy presented the prestigious NTR National Film Award to actor Chiranjeevi.
At the event on Thursday, where the state government's 'Telangana Gaddar Film Awards 2025' (TGFA) were presented, veteran actor Kamal Haasan received the Paidi Jairaj Film Award for Indian film personality.
The awards to Chiranjeevi and Haasan were part of the special awards announced by the government.
Veteran actress Jayasudha was the recipient of the Akkineni Nageswara Rao Film Award (female).
The B N Reddy Film Award for a Telugu film director announced for veteran director Singeetham Srinivasa Rao was received by Kamal Haasan as Rao could not attend the event.
In the category of 'individual awards for artists and technicians', Akkineni Naga Chaitanya (Thandel) and Rashmika Mandanna (The Girl Friend) received the best leading actor and best leading actress awards respectively.
Speaking on the occasion, Chiranjeevi lauded CM Revanth Reddy for his efforts to promote Hyderabad as a hub of international cinema and urged the neighbouring Andhra Pradesh government to revive the practice of presenting film awards as Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu is close to the film industry.
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