Chennai: The Tamilnadu government may declare holiday for schools during the landfall of cyclone Gaja.

The State government has taken all precautionary measures and so people need not panic about the cyclone, said Revenue Minister R B Udayakumar.

Speaking to reporters after discussing with the staff at Disaster Management and Mitigation Department, Chepauk, he said, “According to Met department cyclonic storm Gaja over Bay of Bengal is inching closer towards out coast at a speed of 5 kmph and currently 750 km away from Chennai. It’s likely to cross Tamilnadu coast between Pamban and Cuddalore Thursday forenoon.”

“In wake of this, Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami held discussions with all department officials and senior Ministers,” the Minister said.

“We have employed 1,618 earthmovers, 1,454 wood cutters, 1,032 boats, 1,441 generators, 1,663 water pumps, 1,125 swimmers, 657 snake catchers, 236 medical teams, 368 mobile medical teams,” he said and added that NDRF team has been kept ready.

A Met official, said, “When Gaja makes landfall, scattered heavy to very heavy with isolated extremely heavy rain or thundershower is likely to occur at most places over Tamilnadu and Puducherry Thursday. Also, scattered heavy with isolated very heavy rain is likely to occur at many places over Tamilnadu and Puducherry Friday. In the last 24 hours, Nagercoil recorded a maximum rainfall of 2 cm followed by Mylaudy which recorded 1 cm.”