To some in interior south India, Cyclone Thane was just another cold, wet day to grumble about. Or perhaps even enjoy as they huddled over a hot beverage. But on the east coast of India, cyclone Thane's fury was at its peak early on the morning of Friday, December 30. 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 were disrupted amid fears of water shortage.










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