Chennai: Ahead of the cyclone, Tamil Nadu is watching as the depression intensified into a deep depression on Wednesday morning, which lay about 770 km east-southeast of Chennai at 8:30 am on Wednesday, forecasters said. It is likely to intensify into a cyclonic storm this evening and reach the coast of North Tamil Nadu and Puducherry and South Andhra Pradesh by Thursday morning.
“It will continue to move west-northwestwards towards north Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and adjoining south coastal Andhra Pradesh during the next 48 hours,” the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said in a statement. Tamil Nadu has received rain so far, but light to moderate rain is expected in several districts later on December 7.
“Light to moderate rainfall is very likely at most places over coastal Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal and heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places on December 8,” said S Balachandran, director of the Regional Meteorological Center (RMC) in Chennai. . Heavy rains have been predicted in 15 districts including Chennai from December 8 to 10.
Tamil Nadu’s Department of Revenue and Disaster Management has set up more than 5,000 relief camps across the state to relocate people from low-lying areas, the government said. The Greater Chennai Corporation has set up 169 relief centers and 807 water pumps in flood-prone areas to pump out rainwater in the city. Twelve teams of nearly 400 personnel from National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) have been deployed to Chennai, Nagapattinam, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Cuddalore, Mayiladuthurai, Thiruvallur, Kanchipuram and V Chengalpatlupa districts.
“The State Emergency Operation Center and the District Level Emergency Operation Centers are operational round the clock with additional officers,” KKSSR Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Ramachandran said on Wednesday. “We have directed the Chennai Corporation and all District Collectors to form multi-sectoral zonal committees to regularly monitor the affected areas, set up mobile teams with tree cutters and other equipment for immediate removal of fallen trees due to strong winds and maintain adequate equipment. Teams should be formed to maintain electric poles and wires and repair damaged power lines.”
Strong winds of 40-50 kmph gusting to 60 kmph are likely over southern parts of Tamil Nadu coast, the RMC statement said. Strong winds will prevail over northern parts of Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal coastal areas from morning on December 9, the RMC said, adding that “wind speed will gradually increase to gale speed in the order of 60-70 kmph with gusts up to 80 kmph h in the evening and continue until 10 in the morning.” Fishermen have been warned not to venture into the sea until December 10 as rough seas are expected. The state has also ordered local officials to constantly monitor reservoirs and dams and to give adequate notice to the public when excess water is released.
