Information bulletin
India: Cyclone THANE
Information Bulletin n° 01
GLIDE n° TC-2011-000201-IND
5 January 2011
This bulletin is being issued for information only, and reflects the current situation and details available at this time. The Indian Red Cross Society, with the support of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), has determined that external assistance is not required, and is therefore not seeking funding or other assistance from donors at this point of time.
The cyclonic storm THANE crossed the northeast districts of Tamil Nadu on 30 December 2011 between 06:30 and 07:30 am. It has been projected to be slotted under the 'very severe' cyclonic storm category I to have hit the southern states of India to date. The impact has been two-fold for the coastal districts of Cuddalore and Puducherry Union Territory (UT) with continuous strong winds and rain lashing disrupting civil life. Continuous rainfall has been reported in the neighbouring state of Kerela. Initial assessment reports show that around 200,000 houses have been fully or partially damaged, thousands of trees up-rooted, and roads have been blocked due to water logging. Electricity supply and communication lines have been cut off in many parts of Cuddalore district and Puduchery UT and have not been restored yet. Additionally, preparatory early warning initiatives taken by the Tamil Nadu state government officials as well as trained Red Cross volunteers in Cuddalore district helped evacuate people from low lying areas which has resulted in less human casualties.
Red Cross and Red Crescent action
The Indian Red Cross Society (IRCS) Cuddulore district branch started field level interventions even before the cyclone struck. Trained Red Cross volunteers in coordination with the district administration visited the coastal villages and disseminated early warning and evacuation messages.
The assessment of affected areas, distribution of non-food items, distribution of food packets, supply of drinking water and family news services are some of the activities being carried out by the Cuddulore district branch.
The situation
Cyclone THANE has hit the coast of Tamil Nadu, making landfall between Puducherry and Cuddalore districts. Puducherry Union Territory (UT) and Tamil Nadu state has witnessed heavy rainfall and strong winds. The landfall happened very close to the coastal district of Cuddalore, southeast of Puducherry. As a result, very heavy rainfall has been lashing through northern Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Rayalseema.
The cyclone has damaged more than 200,000 thatched houses in Cuddalore district resulting in uprooting of trees, poles and thatched roofs. People from low lying areas have been evacuated. School buildings in Information bulletin India: Cyclone THANE Chennai have been turned into temporary shelter homes. So far, there have been no confirmed reports on the height of the waves and rise in sea level. However, the entire city is on high cyclone alert.
Regardless of all the preparatory measures taken by the state and district administration, assessments have showed the following damages to civil life, especially Cuddalore district
So far, 47 causalities have been reported in Tamil Nadu, of which 31 are reported in Cuddalore district.
In Thottampattu village, located 6 km from the coast in interior Cuddalore district, out of the 400 families residing in the village, over 50 homes have been wiped out.
Death count for cattle is 36 in Cuddalore district.