The Delta region of Tamil Nadu is experiencing a great calamity due to the Gaja cyclone. The affected districts are Nagapattinam, Cuddalore, Thanjavur, Pudukkottai, Tiruvarur, and Ramanathapuram. More than 60 people have lost their lives due to the terrible cyclone. Over 200 livestock were dead and their carcasses are in the vicinity. More than 3.7 lakh people have been evacuated and accommodated in government run relief camps (news as on 22nd November 2018).

Many people are injured, but the timely evacuation had saved many lives. Many electrical transformers are damaged by the Cyclone which had cut the power supplies. The people are in urgent need of relief supplies especially dry food as there are families that have not eaten for days. We are also in urgent need of drinking water and medical supplies, to prevent any outbreak of epidemics.

Thanks to the general contribution of Actor Suriya and Actor Karthi to our NGO OfERR disaster management team are on the ground working in the affected districts, living with the people of the destroyed villages and helping them by cutting the fallen trees, clearing dead animal carcasses and debris, preventing the outbreak of epidemic by implementing sanitation measures and conducting medical camps. OfERR staff are using Generators to utilize the existing community water resource. Hurricane lanterns are being distributed to light the villages, which are currently enveloped in a sea of darkness.OfERR staff are working alongside the victims, encouraging community participation and carrying out community cooking. Biscuits and milk powder are being distributed to families with young children. Bed sheets, mats and mosquito coils are being given to the elderly and disabled along with food supplies.