Gaja Impact
In recent years extreme weather events, such as cyclones,
have become more frequent
A tall electric transformer teetering on the roadside, its poles and wires twisted. Rubble filling rows of damaged thatched houses, entire groves of coconut trees lying criss-crossed in heaps, and mobile towers reduced to a mass of twisted metal.
These were common sights across Nagapattinam, Tiruvarur and Thanjavur, districts that suffered the worst impact of the battering inflicted by Cyclone Gaja, which tore through Tamil Nadu in November 2018. Strong winds ripped through the fields and plains of this fertile region, renowned as the State’s granary, tearing apart the lives of thousands of farmers and other non-farm workers.
High-yielding coconut, mango, gooseberry, tamarind and other trees were uprooted and paddy fields destroyed. Gaja scythed through nearly one crore coconut trees and affected the lives of 70,000 farmers in the region. Over three lakh houses were destroyed.
Destruction unleashed: Roof tiles seemed to defy gravity when they were blown off rooftops as Gaja rammed into Tiruvarur
Ravaged coconut grove and animal shelter at a village near Tiruvarur. Cyclone Gaja devastated farmlands across several districts in Tamil Nadu
Ravaged coconut grove and animal shelter at a village near Tiruvarur. Cyclone Gaja devastated farmlands across several districts in Tamil Nadu
Nature’s power: A collapsed transformer
at Pinnathur village near Tiruvaur
Gaja scythed through nearly one crore coconut trees and affected the lives of 70,000 farmers in the region
Gaja scythed through nearly one crore coconut trees and affected the lives of 70,000 farmers in the region
In the wrong place: A fishing boat slammed against a community hall in a coastal village in Thiruvarur
Sticky situation: Boat stuck in muddy slurry called ocean ooze left behind by Gaja at Pushpavanam fishing village near Vedaranyam
Sticky situation: Boat stuck in muddy slurry called ocean ooze left behind by Gaja at Pushpavanam fishing village near Vedaranyam
Resoration of power lines: TNEB workers worked night and day to restore electrical power to areas where supply was cut off by the cyclone
All across villages in the area that were impacted by Gaja, hundreds of electrical poles were uprooted and wires and equipment lay in shambles
All across villages in the area that were impacted by Gaja, hundreds of electrical poles were uprooted and wires and equipment lay in shambles
Materials being brought in for repairs
Working together to bring back a semblance of normalcy to the cyclone-hit areas
Working together to bring back a semblance of normalcy to the cyclone-hit areas
