Chennai, December 31: At least 33 people were killed as cyclone Thane that hit the Tamil Nadu coast, with a wind speed of 140 kmph, Friday morning left a trail of death and destruction of crops and properties in the state and Puducherry, officials said.
The total number of dead in Tamil Nadu rose to 26 and seven in Puducherry, caused by electrocution, falling of tree or roof or walls during the day.
In Tamil Nadu coastal district Cuddalore, where teh cyclone hit with full force, reported 21 deaths while the remaining dead are from Villupuram (2), Tiruvallur (2) and Chennai (1).
Standing paddy crop on around 25,000 acres of land in the Cauvery delta region is estimated to have been damaged due the high speed cyclonic wind.
Thousands of people reached relief camps in Cuddalore as the strong wind blew off the thatched roofs of houses.
The wind also uprooted hundreds of trees, electric poles, traffic signal poles and mobile phone towers, and damaged standing crops across the coastal districts in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.
A Korean cargo ship OSM Arena anchored out in the sea started drifting towards Chennai shore due to the strong current and wind. The ship is now standing at a safe distance and steps to tow the vessel to safer waters will be taken Saturday.
Around 6,000 people living in low-lying areas in Kanchipuram, Cuddalore, Tiruvallur, Nagapattinam, Villupuram and Chennai have been shifted to safer places.
—-Agencies