Devastation worse than tsunami, says Nagai in-charge Radhakrishnan

“In tsunami, only few villages were damaged and rescue measures were carried out in the villages with no great difficulty but in Cyclone Gaja even the remote villages were devastated and it proves a much bigger challenge,” said Radhakrishnan.

Radhakrishnan was the district collector of Nagapattinam back in 2004 and due to his stupendous work in tsunami rehabilitation he won various awards. For Cyclone Gaja he was appointed the special officer for Nagapattinamdistrict.

Radhakrishnan, on Sunday, held discussion with the officials of district administration about the aftermaths of cyclone and problems faced by the people of Nagapattinam district. After his meeting Radhakrishnan, while addressing the media, said that 200 more JCBs were asked for to put into operation to clear the trees that were uprooted in the cyclone.

He also said that 151 habitations were severely damaged in the cyclone and 10 supervisory committees were appointed to monitor that the relief materials reach them on priority basis.

He further said that there is a grave situation of spread of diseases post cyclone and people should extend their help to allow medical supplies to reach the rescue and medical camps to treat people, who are in need.

Earlier, Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam held a meeting with officials of Nagapattinam district administration and reviewed the post-cyclone situation. Then he visited a rescue camp set up in a private school in Nagapattinam and distributed relief materials to 305 families, present in the camp.

Following that he visited the neighbouring villages of Nagapattinam such as Vadavur, Kurichi, Aaimazhai, Agalangan, Sembiyandevi, Abaranadhari, Puducherry, Vadugacheri and Sikkal and monitored the rehabilitation works going on in the villages.

After monitoring the rehabilitation works, Panneerselvam said that 746 JCBs are involved in clearing the uprooted trees that have fallen in five districts of Nagapattinam, Tiruvarur, Thanjavur, Pudukkottai andCuddalore.