Tamil Nadu: Ghosts of Gaja made people prepared for cyclone Nivar

NAGAPATTINAM: While Cyclone Nivar left people of the delta districts untouched, the ordeal of Cyclone Gaja, which ripped through the region in 2018, still stays afresh among the local people in Thanjavur and Nagappattinam. This time, people were well prepared to face the cyclone by making safety arrangements.
K Murugamani, 40, a resident of Olimathi Odathurai village in Tiruvarur district, has well covered his thatched house with tarpaulin and rope this time.Several farmers trimmed their trees to escape from the onslaught of the cyclonic winds. “I lost my thatched house, several farmers lost lakhs of coconut trees and properties when Cyclone Gaja struck. We were scared this time when the news of the depression came, but the cyclone left us this time without any damage,” Murugamani added.

A group of agriculture labourers at Saliyamangalam in Thanjavur district confirmed that they were safe. “There is no rain today (Thursday) and even sun also started to shine. So, we resumed our work,” said S Mallika, an agriculture labourer.
Fishermen in Nagapattinam who tied their boats to poles near the New Beach in Nagapattinam said that their boats were safe.