Chennai, November 16: As cyclone 'Gaja' is bound to wreak havoc in low-lying parts of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, the Southern Railway has decided to cancel trains to and fro regions where the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an alert. The cancellation of trains was necessitated as the cyclonic storm was predicted to make landfall in the wee hours of Friday.

Passengers affected by the cancellation of train will be provided compensatory commutation by the Railways after the storm subsides. According to weather experts, the cyclone's impact would be considerably weakened in the next 12 hours. Schools and Colleges to Remain Closed Across Tamil Nadu on Friday.

List of Trains Cancelled by Railways Due to Cyclone Gaja:

  • Karaikal – Trichy Express

  • Karaikal - Tiruvarur Express

  • Karaikal – KSR Bengaluru

  • Karaikal – Mayiladuthurai

  • Tiruppadripuliyur – Trichy

  • Tiruppadripuliyur - Neyveli

  • Mannargudi - Mayiladuthurai – Mannargudi

Another statement issued by the Madurai division of Southern Railways announced the cancellation of following trains:

  • 56723 Madurai – Rameswaram passenger train

  • 56724 Rameswaram – Madurai train

  • 56829 Trichy – Rameswaram passenger train

  • 56830 Rameswaram – Trichy train

In the early morning bulletin issued by the IMD, it said Gaja crossed by 12.30 a.m. and 2.30 a.m. between Nagapattinam and Vedaranyam with a wind speed of about 110 kmph gusting up to 120 kmph.

Over 76,000 people have been evacuated from low lying areas and housed in 289 relief centres in Cuddalore, Nagapattinam, Ramanathapuram, Thanjavur, Pudukottai and Thiruvarur on Thursday itself.

The government had disconnected power supply on Thursday night as precautionary measure. Owing to the cyclone several power poles have been damaged.

All schools and colleges across the state were ordered to remain shut. The university exams scheduled on Friday were also postponed.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 16, 2018 08:58 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).