 | This article needs to be updated. (December 2018) |
 Cyclone Gaja nearing South India on November 15 | |
| Meteorological history | |
|---|---|
| Formed | November 10, 2018 |
| Remnant low | November 19, 2018 |
| Dissipated | November 22, 2018 |
| Very severe cyclonic storm | |
| 3-minute sustained (IMD) | |
| Highest winds | 130 km/h (80 mph) |
| Lowest pressure | 976 hPa (mbar); 28.82 inHg |
| Category 1-equivalent tropical cyclone | |
| 1-minute sustained (SSHWS/JTWC) | |
| Highest winds | 150 km/h (90 mph) |
| Lowest pressure | 963 hPa (mbar); 28.44 inHg |
| Overall effects | |
| Fatalities | 52 total |
| Damage | $775 million (2018 USD) |
| Areas affected | Southern Vietnam, Malay Peninsula, Andaman Islands, Sri Lanka, Southern India (Tamil Nadu, Puducherry) |
| IBTrACS | |
Part of the 2018 North Indian Ocean cyclone season | |
Cyclone Gaja was the sixth named cyclone of the 2018 North Indian Ocean cyclone season, after Cyclones Sagar, Mekunu, Daye, Luban, and Titli. Forming on November 5 as a low-pressure system over the Gulf of Thailand, the system crossed through Southern Thailand and the Malay Peninsula and eventually crossed into the Andaman Sea. The weak system intensified into a depression over the Bay of Bengal on November 10 and further intensified to a cyclonic storm on November 11, being named Gaja. After tracking west-southwestward for a number of days in the Bay of Bengal, Gaja made landfall in South India on November 16, moved westward through Vedaranyam, Thiruthuraipoondi, Mannargudi, Muthupet, Pudukkottai, Adirampattinam, Pattukkottai, and Peravurani. The storm survived its crossing into the Arabian Sea; however, it degenerated into a remnant low in hostile conditions only a few days later, before dissipating early on November 22. 45 people were killed by the storm. 8 people were killed in the town of Pattukottai alone. Gaja had severe impacts in South India, particularly in Tamil Nadu. After Cyclone Gaja, Tamil Nadu sought Rs 15,000 crore from Indian central government to rebuild.