CHENNAI: Ex-AIADMK interim general secretary and late Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa's confidante Sasikala has requested the Tamil Nadu government to offer relief to people affected by Cyclone Mandous.

Sasikala, who intends to support ousted AIADMK leader and former chief minister O. Panneerselvam (OPS), said in a statement on Saturday that people who lost their homes and possibilities for employment should receive relief.

She said that due to weather department warnings, fishermen had been unable to go into the water over the previous six days. She also said that this had resulted in financial losses for the fishermen.

Sasikala urged the government to look into the matter of the local fishermen in the Pudukottai, Mahabalipuram, and Nagapattinam regions.

As the India Meteorological Department reports heavy to extremely heavy rains, the former AIADMK leader further asserted that some relief centres were closed in several areas of the state and urged the state government to make sure that the homes are operating effectively (IMD).

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