Cyclone ‘Gaja’ leaves trail of destruction in Tamil Nadu

CHENNAI: Cyclone ‘Gaja’ made a landfall between Nagapattinam and Vedaranyam in Tamil Nadu on November 16, 2018. As per the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA),  cyclone ‘Gaja’ claimed 35 lives. Around 82,000 people were evacuated from vulnerable areas and moved to 471 relief camps before the landfall.  

It caused severe damage to the communication and power infrastructure. P. ThangamaniI,Minister of Electricity, Prohibition and Excise, said that the cyclone damaged over 21,000 electric poles in Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam and Pudukottai districts, and efforts are being made to replace them and restore power supply at the earliest.

As per sources, nearly 1,27,448 trees were uprooted during the Cyclone. 

As per the reports, 9,000 poles were damaged in Pudukottai district, 5,000 were damaged in Thanjavur district, 3,000 in Tiruvarur district and 4,000 in Nagapattinam district. 

Transmission towers and 50 transformers were also damaged in cyclone-hit districts.  

Strong winds and heavy rain disrupted rail and air services. 

Edappadi K. Palaniswami, Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu said that he had urged the Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh for all assistance from the Centre. The Union Minister asked the State Government to send a detailed report on the damages and the quantum of loss suffered.  

The Centre has promised the state government of all assistance to deal with the situation. 

Rajnath Singh issued directions to monitor the situation in Tamil Nadu and to provide all help to the state administration.  

The cyclone Gaja crossed over to the Arabian Sea, heavy rains are predicted for Lakshadweep Islands in the next 24 hours. The cyclone lays centered 40 Km east of Lakshadweep forming into a deep depression. It is likely to intensify further into a cyclonic storm in the next 12 hours.