Cyclone Gaja Live Updates: Storm to make landfall in evening; Tamil Nadu on high alert

Cyclone Gaja is set to make landfall between Tamil Nadu's Cuddalore and Pamban districts on Thursday and will bring heavy rainfall to the state. The weather department has issued high alert and said that cyclone Gaja is very likely to cross coast between Pamban and Cuddalore on Thursday evening or night with a wind speed gusting upto 100 kmph. All educational institutions in Puducherry and Karaikal regions would remain closed tomorrow in view of the cyclone. The National and State Disaster Response Force personnel have been deployed while vigil has been proposed in coastal districts. The Indian Navy was also put on high alert in view of cyclone Gaja approaching the coast of south Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. Navy officials said the Eastern Naval Command (ENC) has assumed a high degree of readiness to render necessary humanitarian assistance as the cyclone is poised to cross the coast of the two states on Thursday evening. "Two Indian Naval ships -- Ranvir and Khanjar -- are standing by to proceed to the most affected areas to undertake humanitarian aid and distress relief," said a Navy official. He said these ships will have additional drivers , doctors, inflatable rubber boats, integral helicopters and relief material on board. The official said helicopters, Dornier aircraft and one P8I aircraft are on standby to undertake reconnaissance, rescue and casualty evacuation.