Chennai, Oct 30: A deep depression lying 500 km south east of Chennai has intensified into a cyclonic storm and is expected to cross the coast between Nagapattinam in Tamil Nadu and Nellore in Andhra Pradesh tomorrow, bringing in torrential rains in the region.
The system, named ‘Nilam', as suggested by Pakistan under the cyclone naming procedure, would move northwestwards and cross the coast between Nagapattinam and Nellore by tomorrow afternoon/evening.
Under the influence of the storm, rainfall at most places, with isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall, would occur over coastal Tamil Nadu and Puducherry during next 12 hours, an bulletin issued by Area Cyclone Warning Centre here at 1 pm said.
It forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall and isolated extremely heavy rainfall (25 cm or more) in the region during the subsequent 36 hours.
“Squally winds speed reaching 45-55 kmph gusting to 65 kmph would prevail along and off north Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and adjoining south Andhra Pradesh coasts during next 12 hours. The wind speed would gradually increase thereafter as the system comes closer to coast,” it said.
Sea will be “very rough to high” and fishermen in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and adjoining south Andhra Pradesh coasts have been advised to stay off the sea.
Windspeeds can reach upto 90 km in Chennai and there could be some disruption in communication lines, the bulletin said. Danger signals ranging from five to seven have been hoisted at Chennai, Ennore, Cuddalore, Nagapattinam and Puducherry ports.
In Chennai, normal life was hit by incessant rains since morning. A holiday was declared today for schools and colleges in Chennai and some other districts.
Kollidam in Tamil Nadu recorded the highest rainfall in the state at 15 cm in the last 24 hours ending 8.30 am today. The north-east monsoon which set in over the state on October 19 has been very active and has already brought in copious rainfall in several parts of the state.
The deep depression today brought heavy rains in many parts of Tamil Nadu, especially in coastal areas, prompting the government to declare a holiday for schools.
Chennai, Kancheepuram, Cuddalore and Villupuram received heavy rains in the morning, inconveniencing office-goers.
Fishermen along north Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and adjoining south Andhra Pradesh coasts are advised not to venture into the sea,” the department said.
A report from Hyderabad says, districts along the Bay of Bengal coast in Andhra Pradesh have been put on high alert as the deep depression that lay centred between Chennai and Nagapattinam is expected to turn into a cyclone by tomorrow.
Heavy winds with a speed ranging from 45-55 kmph are expected under the impact.
Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy, who was on a tour of Medak district in Telangana, directed Revenue Minister N Raghuveera Reddy and Chief Secretary Minnie Mathew over phone to closely monitor the situation and take all precautionary measures.
He asked them to take up rescue and relief operations wherever necessary, a release from CMO said.
A third warning signal has been issued in Krishnapatnam, Vadarevu, Machilipatnam and Nizampatnam ports while fishermen have been warned not to venture into sea.
Control rooms have been opened in the coastal districts, particularly SPS Nellore and Prakasam that are expected to have major impact of the cyclone.
Nellore district Collector B Sridhar said revenue staff in 23 tehsils in the coastal region have been put on alert to handle any eventuality.
In Krishna, which is a high cyclone-prone district, Collector Buddha Prakash Jyothi opened control rooms in coastal areas and got a campaign conducted asking fishermen to stay away from the sea.
“We are ready to meet any eventuality,” Buddha said.
In Singarayakonda area in Prakasam district, high tides were witnessed this morning causing alarm among people. However, no damage has been reported so far.
