Cyclone Nada has deepened into a depression causing heavy rainfall in coastal Tamil Nadu.
Highlights
- Cyclone Nada weakens into a depression, makes landfall near Nagapattinam
- Heavy rain in coastal Tamil Nadu, also expected in Puducherry
- Schools closed, rescue teams ready but impact unlikely to be destructive
Cyclone Nada has weakened into a depression in the Bay of Bengal and made landfall near Nagapattinam in Tamil Nadu, according to the Met department, spawning heavy rain in the coastal areas of the state and Puducherry. Rain up to 4 cm is expected in Cuddalore, Puducherry and Nagapattinam while Chennai will receive moderate rainfall, the weather department has said.
Following are the latest developments in this story:
A team of the National Disaster Response Force or NDRF has reached Karaikal. "We've also got ready many schools as temporary relief centres," said Deputy Collector Kesavan.
NDRF teams have been posted in Cuddalore, which is about 20 km away from Puducherry.
In Cuddalore, where there has been a steady drizzle since Thursday morning, the administration has been instructed to evacuate people from low lying areas and cyclone shelters and emergency services have been readied.
Cuddalore District Collector TP Rajesh said, "We are prepared to deal with the situation. We have identified vulnerable villages, and have kept boats and cyclone shelters ready. We have also kept supplies and schools prepared in case we need to move people. We also have 3,000 electric lamp posts ready to restore power supply quickly if there is any disruption."
The Met office has said that while Cyclone Nada will bring with it heavy rainfall today, it is unlikely to be as intense as the Cyclone Thane that had hit Cuddalore a few years ago.
The Navy said it has "assumed high degree of readiness". Two naval ships, Shakti and Satpura are on standby with divers, doctors, inflatable rubber boats, helicopters and relief material, said a statement.
Schools will today remain closed in Tamil Nadu's northern coastal districts like Chennai, Nagapattinam and Cuddalore and in Puducherry.
In Chennai, scarred by the floods caused by heavy rain last year that killed more than 100 people and made many homeless. The Tamil Nadu government has issued a statement asking people to cooperate, not to panic, and closely monitor broadcasts via TV or radio for any updates.
Dr S Balachandran, Deputy Director of Meteorology said, "Puducherry and Cuddalore will receive heavy rainfall while Chennai will get moderate rains, but people need not panic as the intensity will not be as much as it was last year."
Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy said his administration is prepared well to meet any contingency. Shelters, he said, are ready for people who may have to be evacuated from near the sea and storm water drains have been cleared to avoid flooding.
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