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Sunday, November 18, 2018, 11:47
Cyclone kills 33 in India with thousands in relief camps
By Associated Press
Sunday, November 18, 2018, 11:47 By Associated Press

In this grab made from video provided by KK Productions, a motorcycle is covered in debris from a house that collapsed when Cyclone Gaja struck Nagapattinam, in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, Nov 16, 2018. (KK PRODUCTION VIA AP)

NEW DELHI — A powerful cyclone in southern India has killed at least 33 people, caused massive damage to homes and roads and drove tens of thousands of people into relief camps, officials said.

India's navy assigned two ships and a helicopter for relief work as state authorities rushed drinking water, food and paramedics to nearly 82,000 people who took shelter in more than 400 state-run camps.

They were evacuated from areas in the path of Cyclone Gaja, which struck six districts of Tamil Nadu state on Friday with heavy rains and winds that reached 90 kilometers per hour.

ALSO READ: Death toll rises to 57 after cyclone Titli hits India

Rescuers found 13 bodies Friday and an additional 20 on Saturday, said Edappadi Palaniswami, the state's top elected official. Most deaths were caused by flooding, house collapses and electrocution.

The cyclone uprooted 30,000 electricity poles and more than 100,000 trees, he said. Nearly 10,000 workers were trying to restore electricity supply to the worst-hit areas, he said.

In this grab made from video provided by KK Productions, a man chops branches from a tree to clear a road after a cyclone struck Cuddalore, in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, Nov 16, 2018. (KK PRODUCTION VIA AP)

Palaniswami said a large number of goats, deer and wild animals had also perished in the flooding over the past two days.

READ MORE: Strong cyclone kills at least 12 in southern India

Coconut trees over thousands of acres of farmland have been uprooted, according to Tamil Nadu Vivasayigal Sangam, a farmers' organization.

Tamil Nadu state is prone to cyclones that develop in the Bay of Bengal.

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