In the wake of the “Gaja” cyclone, trees were uprooted, crops were destroyed, buildings collapsed making many people homeless.

"Gaja" Collapsed coastal fishermen belongings 

In the wake of the “Gaja” cyclone, trees were uprooted, crops were destroyed, buildings collapsed making many people homeless. Cyclone “Gaja” has left a trail of destruction in Tamil Nadu,  claiming the lives of at-least 63 people Around 350,000 people have been evacuated in Tamil Nadu, where wind speeds reached 120kmph when the storm made landfall on Nov. 16. Last week, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) had issued red warning, the highest category, for the eastern coastal states, telling locals to watch out for

Roof collapsed SEVAI Centre in kadambadi Nagapatinam 

heavy rains and strong winds. Fishermen were also asked not to go out to sea. Now, local governments are scrambling to provide relief following extensive damage to houses, infrastructure, and crops. The State Government has estimated that the cyclone uprooted over 1170,000 and damaged about 340,000 houses. Farmers have seen acres of their coconut farms and banana plantations ruined. The impact of the cyclone also damaged and power lines, cutting off electricity in several districts including the

Farmer lost their crops due to Gaja cyclone,thanks to Dinamalar photos

Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Pudukottai and Nagapattinam districts. Indian Navy personnel joined the State Authorities,  and civil populace to clear public buildings and roads in Nagapattinam.Two naval ships Chetlat and Cheriyam arrived at Karaikal

SEVAI team of Nagapatinam made an assessment of Gaja damage

this morning carrying relief food material. The system has now become a depression and has entered land area of through Dindigul, Trichy and Theni

Gaja Cyclone devastation

districts. The power supply has been suspended since Thursday evening in Nagapattinam district. Traffic remains disrupted in most parts of Nagapattinam and Karaikal, Tiruvarur, Pudukottai and Thanjavur

cyclone devastated village-Villthamavadi

districts.SEVAI centre in Nagapatinam has been severely damaged and the renovation activities are to be undertaken.Over 100000 Electricity poles may be damaged and over hundred of transformers were damaged. Tamilnadu Electricity Board was hard hit. Almost the entire stretch of the road between Nagapattinam and Vedaranyam was strewn with uprooted poles. Gaja also

Rescued children 

took a heavy toll on the wildlife in Kodiyakarai sanctuary. A herd of deer which escaped from the sanctuary was found dead on the shores. The deer had bleeding noses, indicating they died due to a possible heart failure considering their fragile sensibility. A few horses were also found dead on the shores of Arukatuthurai.Stray animals had a hard time finding shelters. Seawater intrusion was reported in fishing villages and hamlets including Akkaraipettai, Keechankuppam, Seruthur, and Velankanni. People had a hard time finding firm ground as the water level was around waist height. Fishing boats were spotted deep in the woods in Kodiyakkarai, indicating they had tossed into the air by the brute force of the cyclone. More than 3000 boats were damaged due to the cyclone in the past one day. Over 2900 suffered engine

Sheltered people.

failure as the engines seized with the excessive intrusion of Waters. The damage has extended the grounding of fishers at least temporarily in Vedaranyam, salt pans took a hit as the coconut and palm frond thatches used to cover salt stood no chance against the cyclone. The thatches were blown away by the winds and dozens of salt pans on hundreds of acres were reportedly dissolved.  The Shrine Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health in Velankanni was among the places that were affected the most. Schools were also damaged in several Districts and children lost their learning materials and dresses. Senior citizens suffer for want of medicine and blankets etc.

Nagapattinam, a coastal district in Tamil Nadu, is one of the districts that was badly affected by the cyclone. Villages in Vedaranyam, Thalainyaayiru and Keelaiyur blocks are some of the worst-affected places due to the cyclone, with people losing almost everything they owned to the Gaja cyclone.The immediate need for the cyclone Victims as relief measures are Tarpaulin sheets, bed sheets, dresses, sanitary napkins, groceries,sleeping mats .

Gaja cyclone affected Village in Nagapatinam District.