13 years ago
A massive advertisement structure with iron scaffold lying precariously atop a building after bearing the brunt of Cyclone Thane, in Puducherry.
Relief operations were launched on war-footing to bring back normalcy in Cyclone Thane battered Tamil Nadu's Cuddalore district and the adjacent Puducherry, as the toll caused by the severe storm mounted to 42 today.
Cyclone Thane: Updated Path
Cyclone Thane impact video from Cuddalore
According to the latest IMD bulletin, the depression over north Tamil Nadu close to Salem moved westwards and weakened further into well marked low pressure area over north Kerala and neighbourhood at 0530 hours IST.
Under the influence of this system, rainfall at most places with heavy falls at isolated places would occur over Kerala during next 24 hours. Rainfall at many places with isolated heavy rainfall may occur over south interior Karnataka and north interior Tamil Nadu during next 12 hours.
At least 3000 people have had to leave their homes and take shelter in relief camps in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.
The death toll has reached 33.
Meanwhile, cyclone warning has now been withdrawn from Guntur district in Andhra Pradesh.
Under the influence of this system, rainfall at most places with heavy to very heavy falls at isolated places would occur over north Tamil Nadu during next 12 hours.
Twenty seven people have been killed so far - 19 in Cuddalore and 8 in Puducherry.
After the landfall, the cyclone moved further westward and weakened rapidly into a deep depression and lay centered at about 100 km west of Cuddalore, the regional weather office said.
The cyclone also disrupted rail and air operations with services cancelled or rescheduled. Flights to international destinations including the middle-east and Malaysia from Chennai were cancelled following bad weather.
Cyclone Thane leaves Andhra Pradesh coast unscathed. Only two tehsils in the coastal Nellore district received 9.8 cm of rain, while 174 other tehsils received moderate rains.
Nineteen people have died so far. While 12 people have been reported dead in Cuddalore, seven have died in Puducherry.
Kalpakkam nuclear reactors not affected by cyclone ThaneThe two power plants of Madras Atomic Power Station (MAPS) located on the Kalpakkam coast were generating power as usual, though necessary precautions against the cyclone have been taken.
Jaya allots Rs 150 cr for immediate cyclone reliefTamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa on Friday alloted Rs 150 crore for immediate relief measures and directed four Ministers to visit the districts which bore the brunt of cyclonic storm 'Thane'.
Latest report says seven people have died in Puducherry alone; six in wall collapse, one due to drowning.
Video sent by twitvid.com user Jai Shankar.M
Cyclone Thane: Updated Path
Cyclone Thane has left six persons dead and has caused extensive damage in Cuddalore and neighbouring Puducherry. Five persons died in Cuddalore in incidents of wall collapse and electrocution. And in Vanarampet village in Puducherry, a 45-year old man died in house collapse.
Photo sent by NDTV surfer
Mobile phone video of the cyclone sent by NDTV surfer
Chennai helpline numbers: Chennai Corporation - 1913, 25619237; Kancheepuram district administration - 1077, Police control room - 9445465536, 27238001; Tiruvallur district administration - 27661200; Police control room - 27661010.
The landfall happened very close to Cuddalore, southeast of Puducherry. The system is likely to move westwards and cross north Tamil Nadu coast close to south of Puducherry within a few hours and weaken gradually.
14 cm rainfall recorded in Puducherry as Meteorological Department strictly advises people to stay indoors.
(Photo sent by NDTV surfer)
(Photo sent by NDTV surfer)
Cyclone Thane makes landfall between Puducherry and Cudallore. Lull period expected for half an hour, reverse winds will follow.
Both nuclear reactors at the Madras Atomic Power Station in Kalpakkam are operating normally. Early precautions have ensured that all facilities are safe.
Seven disaster management teams have been sent to coastal areas. 15000 men of the National Disaster Management Force are on alert and ready in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu
49 cyclone shelters have been set up in Cudallore and Nagapattinam.
Cyclone Thane stained 40 to 50 kms east of Puducherry. Wind speed upwards of 135 kms per hour.
As Cyclone Thane nears the coast, very heavy winds upwards to 120-130 kmph are blowing in Puducherry. Trees, poles and thatched roofs have been uprooted. Many parts of the city as well as adjoining districts are experiencing power outage.
Met Department says Cyclone expected to make landfall at around 7 am near Puducherry.
As per the last bulletin by the Indian Meteorological Department, the cyclonic storm had moved westwards and lay centred about 90 km east of Puducherry and 125 km southeast of Chennai.
The cyclonic storm Thane has moved westwards and lay centred about 130 km east of Puducherry and 150 km southeast of Chennai, according to the weather office.
The severe cyclone is at a distance of 160 km from the coast of Andhra Pradesh. Currently, the wind speed is at 60-70 kmph and is expected to be almost double when it crosses the coast. Train services to be affected.
A high alert has been sounded in 250 fishermen villages in Andhra Pradesh. 20 teams have been formed to monitor to check any breach by water bodies which can cause flash floods.
Fishermen come out of a helicopter after being rescued by the eastern Naval Command in Visakhapatnam.
Eight teams of the National Disaster Management Force (NDRF) have been sent to the coastal areas. Two of these teams will be in Andhra Pradesh, rest six in Tamil Nadu in view of the cyclone warning. Also, 15,000 men of the NDRF are on alert.
Though Thane currently has an wind-speed of about 140 km per hour, it may weaken slightly and strike the coast with a speed of about 120 km per hour bringing widespread rains.
The weather office has also asked for complete suspension of fishing operations.
The Met Department has said that Cyclone Thane is expected to impact Puducherry and Tamil Nadu districts - Chennai, Kanchipuram, Tiruvallur and Villupuram - between 4 am and 6 am on Friday.
Of the 72 Andhra Pradesh fishermen who went missing from different parts of the state in the last couple of days, all but eight were safe, officials said. Efforts are on to bring them home safely.
Andhra Pradesh government has issued a high alert and directed District Collectors of vulnerable coastal areas to immediately evacuate people living in low-lying areas.
Cyclone Thane is classified a super-cyclone, one notch above the intensity of Cyclone Thane.
Cyclone Nisha was the last cyclonic storm to hit Tamil Nadu on November 26, 2008.
Winds speeds could be between 60-80 kmph.
Cyclone currently around 220 km East of Puducherry and 200 km South-East of Chennai.
Coastal districts of Cudallore, Puducherry and Nagapattinam expected to receive maximum rain.
Met department on Cyclone Thane
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued 'orange' alert - which stands for a severe cyclone - for north Tamil Nadu and south Andhra coasts.
Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy, who is on a visit to Delhi, has reviewed the situation with Chief Secretary Pankaj Dwivedi over phone and directed him to alert all district collectors.
All nine coastal districts are on high alert while authorities, with the help of the Coast Guard, have launched efforts to rescue fishermen trapped on the high seas off the coast in East Godavari district.
Here are the latest tweets on Cyclone Thane
Here are the latest tweets on Cyclone Thane
High tidal waves continue to slam the Andhra Pradesh coast today under the influence of the severe cyclonic storm in the Bay of Bengal which is likely to cross north Tamil Nadu coast between Nagapattinam and Chennai tomorrow.
