Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami will brief Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday about the devastation caused by the cyclonic storm 'Gaja' and seek a comprehensive central assistance package to tide over the situation. K Palaniswami left for Delhi on Wednesday evening and is scheduled to meet the Prime Minister on Thursday at 9.45 am tentatively at his residence, sources said.

The toll in cyclone Gaja has touched 45, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami said and appealed to leaders of all political parties to take part in the relief activities. He said the relief operations were going on a war footing in the districts affected by the cyclonic storm and state ministers have been deployed in Nagapattinam, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, and Pudukottai to monitor it.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami today flagged off over 500 buses for various divisions of the state transport undertakings, including luxury buses equipped with toilets. The Chief Minister flagged off 515 buses procured at an estimated Rs 134.53 crore here, an official release said. Among the vehicles introduced for public use are luxury AC sleeper buses, and those fitted with toilets, it added.