by Peerzada Arshad Hamid

NEW DELHI, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- The death toll from the cyclone that battered India's southern state of Tamil Nadu coast has reached 33, local government officials said Sunday.

The severe cyclonic storm, Gaja, hit the eastern coast, triggering gusty winds and torrential rains. Gaja made landfall on early Friday between Nagapattinam and Vedaranyam, about 303 km south of Chennai, the capital city of Tamil Nadu, uprooting trees and damaging roofs of houses, thereby leaving behind a trail of destruction.

Thousands of trees and electricity poles fell on roads, besides houses destroyed, forcing thousands of people to flee their homes and take refuge in shelters.

Gaja cyclone packed winds up to 120 km per hour.

"The death toll due to the recent cyclone in the state has gone up to 33," a senior local government official said. "The deceased include 20 men, 11 women, and two children."

Officials said they have pressed in disaster response force personnel along with local government employees to clear roadblocks and ensure free movement of traffic.

"Roadblocks are being cleared in Cyclone Gaja affected areas of Thiruthuraipoondi-Vedaranyam road, Orathanadu-Neduvasal road, Thanjavur-Manargudi road, Pudukottai area, Vembur, etc.," an official of the Tamil Nadu State Disaster Management Authority said.

"Collective response work in restoration by volunteers of Indian Red Cross and others for speedy recovery in the cyclone affected areas of Nagapattinam is underway."

Officials said 177,500 people have been kept in over 351 relief camps after the cyclone hit the coastal areas.

Meanwhile, authorities have pressed in officials to carry out restoration work and assessment of the damage caused by the powerful storm.

"Hundreds of employees and emergency workers are clearing roads and replacing about thirty 30, 000 damaged electric poles and restoring more than 1000 sub-stations in the cyclone-ravaged coastal districts," the official said. "Besides a complete damage assessment would be carried out for appropriate relief measures."

State Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami has announced compensation of around 14,000 U.S. dollars to every family that lost a member in the cyclone.

Local government officials said a navy helicopter and two ships have joined relief efforts in the state.

Gaja is the second major storm to hit India's east coast. Last month cyclone Titli battered Odisha state, killing 57 people. Estimates made by officials said the cyclone inflicted a loss of 300 million U.S. dollars in the affected parts of the state.

India's Meteorological department officials said low pressure area has formed over South East Bay of Bengal and Equatorial Indian ocean, which is likely to move towards Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coast in the next 24 hours.

Officials said squally winds with speed reaching 55-65 kmph gusting to 75 kmph is likely to prevail over southeast Arabian Sea to the west of Lakshadweep area. The department has advised fishermen not to venture into the sea in wake of the prevailing rough to very rough conditions in these areas.