The storm has claimed at least 45 lives and severely affected the districts of Thanjaur, Tiruvarur, Dindigul and Pudukkottai.

As many as 45 deaths have been reported in Tamil Nadu as cyclone Gaja wreaked havoc across the state after making landfall in Nagapattinam on November 16.

[wp_ad_camp_1]

Several districts are still grappling with the aftermath of the cyclone, which was also responsible for severe damage to property and disruption to power supply. The worst-hit areas include Tiruvarur, Thanjavur, Pudukkottai, Dindigul and Trichy.

Gaja made its landfall with wind speeds of 120 km per hour, leaving behind a huge trail of destruction in the districts of Nagapattinam, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Pudukottai, Dindigul, Trichy, Karur, Sivaganga, Ramanathapuram, Cuddalore in Tamil Nadu and Karaikal in the Union territory of Puducherry.

According to Chennai-based weather blogger Pradeep John, Gaja has been the worst cyclone to hit Tamil Nadu since Vardah in 2016, and the worst to affect the Cauvery delta since the cyclone in 1993.

Though the assessment of damage caused to standing crops by cyclone Gaja is yet to be over, initial reports say that coconut and banana trees were severely damaged in delta districts.

While no fishermen has been affected, boats have been damaged in gusty winds that blew when the cyclone crossed the coast.

Harbhajan Singh the ‘Turbanator’ from Punjab showing his support for the people of Tamilnadu who has now become a darling of not just CSK fans, but also of the entire southern state on social media is an interesting story.

He always attached with the people of Tamilnadu through his tweets in Tamil language. Now as a gesture of stretching his helping hand the cricketer has posted the helpline numbers for the cyclone affected people.

His post read “#GajaCyclone has brought a severe trail of destruction in the Delta & seashore areas of our #TamilNadu. Routine is impacted & livelihood of Indian farmers and farmlands of TN are at stake. Let’s join our hands and help them recover. Come on #India. It’s for Tamil Nadu #savedelta“

#GajaCyclone has brought a severe trail of destruction in the Delta & seashore areas of our #TamilNadu. Routine is impacted & livelihood of Indian farmers and farmlands of TN are at stake. Let’s join our hands and help them recover. Come on #India. It’s for Tamil Nadu #savedelta pic.twitter.com/jJMe2i4Tl0

— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) November 19, 2018

[wp_ad_camp_1]

The cricketer also tweeted the same post in Tamil which won the hearts of Thousands of twitter users. His Tamil post roughly translated as “The place which provided food for the entire state is now suffering from the cyclone and longs for water. Lets join our hands and help the people who needs the basic needs. I will always stand by you Tamilnadu”

ஊருக்கே சோறுபோட்ட தமிழக #டெல்டா முழுதும் இன்று சோறு தண்ணிக்காக ஏங்குது.#கஜா புயலால் அத்துனை துயரங்களை அனுபவித்து அடிப்படை தேவையை தேடும் நம் அன்பு நெஞ்சங்களுக்காக கரம் கோர்ப்போம்.முடிந்ததை செய்வோம் உங்களோடு நான் துணை நிற்பேன் தமிழகமே.#GajaCyclone #SaveDelta #WeNeedToStandWithDelta pic.twitter.com/uzhbOCIsCm

— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) November 19, 2018

Check out the reactions he received :

Vivasayiku onununa vivasayi thanda varuvaan🙏💐

— 🦈கடம்பவனன்🦈⛰ (@Bharani_1vj) November 19, 2018

#SaveDelta #WeNeedToStandWithDelta #GajaCyclone pic.twitter.com/b15w5QGt88

— Rajini Guna (@GSekar18) November 19, 2018

Manusan ya ne pic.twitter.com/TbgvS7zEF1

— Sahul (@SahulMcm) November 19, 2018

கேரளாவிற்க்கு லட்சக்கணக்கில் அள்ளி கொடுத்த நடிகர்கள் எங்கே 30 நாள் தமிழ்நாட்டில் விளையாடிவிட்டு சென்ற இவருக்கு உள்ள அக்கரை கூடவா தமிழ்நாட்டு மக்களின் பணத்தில் கோடி கோடியாக சொத்து சேர்த்த உங்களுக்கு இல்லை.. #SaveDelta #SaveVedaranyam நன்றிகள் கோடி பாஜி..🙏🙏🙏

— கருப்பு வைரம் (@karans69) November 19, 2018

சர் நீங்க எவ்வளவு உதவி செய்தீர்கள், 👇👇இவனுக்கு பதிலடி குடுக்கணும் pic.twitter.com/C2HvtJTwDn

— Sri Ananth (@ananthcsk98) November 19, 2018

#WeNeedToStandWithDelta pic.twitter.com/Uqglqc4MAp

— Thalapathy Naveen (@Naveenvj77) November 19, 2018

சர்கார் #Sarkar #Thalapathy
படம் கிளைமாக்ஸ் டையலாக் தான் நினைவுக்கு வருது

“நீ தான்டா முதல் திருடன்.. நீ தான்டா முதல் குற்றவாளி ” #SaveDelta#Save_Delta#SaveCauveryDelta#WeNeedToStandWithDelta #ComeBackDelta #Delta #DeltaFarmers pic.twitter.com/OL9Ac93Quj

— மகிழ்ச்சி 😍💏🎸🎹🎈🎥🎯 (@satupaiyan1) November 19, 2018

நன்றி 🙏 உங்களுக்கு இருக்கும் அக்கரை கூட இங்கு பல தமிழர்க்கு இல்லை.. #WeNeedToStandWithDelta #SaveDelta

— கலை (@KalaieeeN587) November 19, 2018

“Coconut, horticulture crops such as banana, agricultural crops such as maize and at some places paddy have been damaged.  Of them, coconut and banana have been badly damaged in delta districts. Besides, poly houses meant for growth of vegetable crops under protected cultivation, infrastructural entities such as agricultural and horticultural farms have also been destroyed,” Agriculture Secretary Gagandeep Singh Bedi, who is monitoring the relief works in Cuddalore and neighbouring districts, told Express.

[wp_ad_camp_1]

The extensive damage to coconut and banana plantations, paddy and other standing crops are yet to be assessed. In a statement, Tamil Nadu chief minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami said revenue and the agricultural department officials have been directed to estimate the damage to crops.