Central team winds up TN visit to assess cyclone damage

: A central team deputed to assess the damage caused by cyclone Gaja, Monday completed its three-day inspection in storm hit districts of Tamil Nadu with a visit to affected areas of Nagapattinam district.

The team, led by Daniel E Richard, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, completed its inspections and later in the day proceeded to neighbouring Karaikkal in the Union territory of Puducherry, official sources told PTI.

They visited affected areas, including the worst-hit Vettaikaraniruppu village near here.

Winding up the visit, Richard assured that all the storm affected people would get appropriate relief.

The team visited districts, including Tiruvarur, Thanjavur and Nagapattinam that witnessed extensive damage, he told reporters here.

"We will go back and submit a report...so that people will get benefit with more help from the Centre."
On the storm and its impact, he said "we are surrounded by disaster on the left and right and we have seen all the damage."
Referring to the magnitude of the damage, the senior official said "this is a huge disaster and it is not possible for things to happen overnight."
Asked how he felt interacting with the victims, Richard said it was a "moving experience which I cannot put in words. I am a human being (too)."