Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], Dec. 2 : Cyclone Nada passed off peacefully through Karaikal coast in Pondy region at 5.00am on Friday with its wind velocity weakening.
Cuddalore Collector Rajesh Kumar said, "We have identified and strengthened 41 cyclone relief shelters with adequate food material and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams have already arrived." Disaster Monitoring Secretary Gagan Singh told ANI that fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea.
Police have even conducted a recce of the sensitive regions. Puducherry Lieutenant-Governor Kiran Bedi tweeted, "NADA, Cyclone passed off peacefully (land fall) through Karaikal (Pondy region) coast at 5.00am.
Wind velocity down." The Meteorological Department on Thursday said Cyclone Nada would weaken in the next 12 hours and specific warning has been launched to fishermen not to venture into the sea.
The Met office said it may be downgraded, called a "deep depression", which is a notch below cyclone. It is currently about 350 km away from Tamil Nadu's capital Chennai, which has been cloudy since morning with mild showers in some areas.
"Cyclone Nada will weaken as deep depression and cross the coast. In the next 12 hours, the cyclone will weaken into a deep depression," said meteorological department.
"Under the influence of this system, rainfall is expected to occur at many places in the next two days, and fishermen are warned not to venture into sea." A cyclone alert has been sounded in Tamil Nadu in view of deep depression forming over the Bay of Bengal.
Chennai, the coastal regions of the state and Puducherry are likely to receive heavy to very heavy rainfall over the next two days.
Area Cyclone Warning Centre director S,. Balachandran said the cyclone was expected to move in west-northwest direction and would cross between Vedaranyam and Puducherry in the early hours of December 2.
"The well-marked low pressure area, which was lying over the southeast bay yesterday intensified further and intensifies the cyclone storm.
And today morning (Wednesday), at 8:30, lying at about 735 kilometer southeast of Puducherry or Southwest of Bay of Bengal," said Balachandran in Chennai.
The weatherman said though the cyclone will be of less intensity, but heavy rainfall is expected tomorrow.
The administration has taken proactive measures to face the challenge of the impending cyclone. NDRF teams are kept ready for eventuality and 179 relief centres are operational in Puducherry alone. Chief Minister Narayanasamy has requested people not to panic. Fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea. Puducherry Government has declared holiday for schools on Friday also. Met department has forecast of heavy rain at isolated places over Tamil Nadu and Kerala today..
Source: ANI
