Chennai, Oct 31 : Cyclone Nilam today swept across north Tamil Nadu coast near Mahabalipuram, about 55 km from here, leaving two persons dead, including a crew member of an oil tanker that ran aground off the city.
The crew member drowned after a life boat carrying him and 21 colleagues capsized in choppy waters off Besant Nagar locality in south Chennai in high velocity winds just hours before the cyclone hit the coast. He was brought dead to a hospital while 15 others were rescued.
They had attempted to escape using the life boat after the ship with 37 crew ran aground having been drifted by high velocity winds. Two others are in a serious condition, Chennai Port Trust officials said.
