cyclone

Close encounter with Cyclone Thane
To those in interior south India, Cyclone Thane might be just another cold, wet day to grumble about. Or perhaps even enjoy as we huddle over a hot beverage. But on the east coast of India, cyclone Thane's fury was at its peak early this morning. At about 9 AM, the cyclone made landfall between Cuddalore, Tamil Nadu, and Puducherry on India's eastern coastline. Winds, at speeds of 140 kph, tore avenue trees off the ground, hurled dustbins afar, snapped coconut palms like matchsticks, ripped windows out of their hinges, and tossed catamarans and fishing boats ashore. Gigantic, furious waves washed up great boulders onto the esplanade and raging winds smashed the doors of the French Consulate with debris. Power and cellular networks have been disrupted and fears of a water shortage are rising. Sahastrarashmi, who is running on erratic broadband on his last minutes of electricity, sends these unsettling pictures from Puducherry.