Satellite images captured on November 15, prior to Cyclone Gaja making landfall (on November 16), and after, on November 18, show a distinct lack of night lighting due to disruption of electricity in the affected districts.

The colour white in the map shows luminosity which corresponds to the presence of night lights measured at 1.30 a.m. on that particular day.

The cyclone reportedly damaged 1.13 lakh electric poles, 841 transformers and 201 sub-stations. Only 40% of the poles have been restored. This is reflected in the relative higher luminosity in the map on November 28.