Chennai, Dec 31 (IANS) A day after Cyclone Thane crossed the Tamil Nadu coast, leaving 37 people dead in south India, life was Saturday limping back to normalcy in the worst affected Cuddalore district. However, people will have to usher in the New Year in darkness.

At least 37 people have died in south India — 26 in Tamil Nadu, four in Kerala and seven in Puducherry — due to electrocution, falling of trees and collapsing roofs or walls.

“Major roads are being cleared of uprooted trees and traffic is being resumed. People are returning to their homes or going to the homes of their relatives from relief camps. Life is coming back to normalcy,” Cuddalore Deputy Superintendent of Police S. Vanitha told IANS.

Several trees, street lampposts and electric poles were uprooted Friday at Cuddalore by the cyclone that packed a wind speed of 140 kmph when it crossed the coast.

“There is no power in the district which in turn is making supply of water at homes a problem. We are not able to draw water from the wells. Though supply of milk was there this (Saturday) morning,” a housewife in Cuddalore told IANS.

J. Kannan, another Cuddalore resident, said: “For bachelors like me, life is difficult as hotels have not opened and shopkeepers are charging astronomical prices even for biscuit packets. A litre of milk is sold at Rs.50 — more than double the rates charged normally.”

“A candle costing Rs.2 is now sold at Rs.10. There is no power in the district and the shopkeepers are making hay while the sun is shining,” he said

Officials said it would take at least two days to restore power supply in the district as most of the electric poles have been uprooted by the wind.

Banking operations in the district have also been affected in the absence of power.

“ATMs (Automatic Teller Machines) do not work. Further, it is the month-end, people will be in need of money,” an official of a public sector bank told IANS.

“Glass panes were shattered and DTH (direct-to-home) antennas were blown away by the wind. Strong winds blew away tiled and thatched roofs of houses,” he added.

Most people said the wind intensity was so terrifying that nobody was able to step out Friday morning.

In Tamil Nadu, the coastal Cuddalore district reported 21 deaths while others deaths were from Villupuram (2), Tiruvallur (2) and Chennai (1).

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa Friday ordered release of Rs.150 crore towards relief and reconstruction of damaged infrastructure in the state.