Cyclone Thane: Central team visits Nagapattinam

A two-member central team on Tuesday visited some of the villages in the district that were worst-hit by cyclone Thane and interacted with farmers and affected people.

The team comprised Manoharan, Director in-charge, Tobacco Development in the Department of Agriculture and Sundramurthi, Superintending Engineer, Water Resources Ministry.

Manoharan later told reporters that the district administration had submitted a report stating paddy crops in over 50,000 hectares and horticultural crops in 450 hectares had been damaged in the district. The district administration has put the total loss suffered due to the cyclone at Rs106.75 crore, he said.

Manoharan added they would hold a discussion with the Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary at Chennai and would submit a detailed report to the Union Government.

The Team was accompanied by Tamil Nadu Agriculture Commissioner Manivasakam, Special Officer (Thane Cyclone) Prabhakar Rao, District Collector T Munusamy, Superindentent of Police G Ramar among others.

A nine-member central team had on Monday visited the cyclone-hit Cuddalore district, which bore the brunt of its fury that claimed 39 lives, to assess the damage and said it would submit its report in three days.

The team led, by Joint Secretary in Union Home Ministry Lokesh Jha had also toured various localities in and around the Puducherry Union Territory on Jan 8 to assess the damage.