Tamil Nadu News

Around 12,000 people have been evacuated across coastal Tamil Nadu ahead of landfall by the cyclone Gaja - a four-hour process that has already started. The outer band of the cyclone has entered the land area near Nagapattinam, nearly 300 km from state capital Chennai. "It would take three to four hours for the eye of the storm to make landfall," said Dr S Balachandran, the chief of meteorological office in Chennai. The state government said it is adequately prepared. More than 6000 relief camps have been opened and eight rescue teams have been put in place.

A statue of late DMK chief M Karunanidhi will be unveiled next month, the party announced today. National leaders of various political parties are expected to attend the function to unveil the life-size statue on December 16.

Gaja Cyclone Chennai: Cyclone Gaja is expected to hit the coast near Nagapattinam in southern Tamil Nadu tonight. Schools and colleges in five districts in the state and Puducherry are closed today. As it approaches the coast, "Gaja", which means elephant in Sanskrit, is expected to bring heavy rain and strong winds in coastal Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. The Navy has been put on high alert to be ready for any assistance. Fishermen in the region have been asked to not venture out to the sea.

Cyclone Gaja is set to make landfall in Tamil Nadu today. The cyclonic storm will hit the Tamil Nadu coast between Cuddalore and Pamban. 'Gaja' that lay over southwest and adjoining southeast and west central Bay of Bengal is about 480 km north east of Nagapattinam and is very likely to cross coast between Pamban and Cuddalore on Thursday evening or night with a wind speed gusting upto 100 kmph, the Met office said.

The Madras High Court on Wednesday sought to know from the state Chief Electoral Officer when the Election Commission proposes to hold the by-elections to Tiruparankunram and Tiruvarur Assembly constituencies.

The ruling AIADMK in Tamil Nadu launched a 24-hour satellite television news channel "News J" on Wednesday, in a big push to claim its former chief Jayalalithaa's legacy ahead of the mega by-elections for 20 assembly seats expected to be announced by the Election Commission soon.

The cyclonic storm 'Gaja' over the Bay of Bengal lay at about 470 km south east from Chennai and is set to make landfall between Cuddalore and Pamban on Thursday evening bringing heavy rainfall to Tamil Nadu.

An iron rope of the century-old cantilever Pamban railway bridge snapped Wednesday injuring a 45-year-old worker while it was being raised, resulting in the disruption of vessel traffic, an official said.

Slamming Tamil superstar Rajinikanth for his remarks that Prime Minister Narendra Modi seemed to be a "strong" man electorally, the ruling AIADMK today said people would decide who is "strong" and "weak" during elections as they were the "reviewing authorities."

Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy today held a review meeting with officials of various departments at Thirunallar in Karaikal district and took stock of the preparedness as cyclone Gaja is likely to hit the coastal district tomorrow

The 21-second surveillance clip shows how the RPF personnel's alertness prevented a major accident.

The ruling AIADMK in Tamil Nadu has unveiled a bronze statue of former Chief Minister and AIADMK Chief J Jayalalithaa at their party headquarters in Chennai. The life-size statue resembling Ms Jayalalithaa has brought relief and cheer to hundreds of party workers after the party's flop show earlier this year.

The efforts to bring together a broad alliance against the National Democratic Alliance gathered steam today with Communist Party of India (Marxist) general secretary Sitaram Yechury announcing that his party will support the DMK in Tamil Nadu. He made this statement after a meeting with DMK president MK Stalin in Chennai.

Cyclonic storm Gaja has moved westwards and was now located at about 740 km east-northeast of Chennai and expected to cross coastal Tamil Nadu in the afternoon of November 15, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said today.

The five accused persons in the Rs 5.78 crore train heist case were sent to Central Prison in Tamil Nadu capital Chennai on Monday after their police custody came to an end, police said.