Cyclogenesis over Bay of Bengal likely: Warning issued for several Tamil Nadu districts

Bhubaneswar/Chennai: The low pressure area over Bay of Bengal is likely to intensify into a depression in the next 12 hours and reach near Tamil Nadu coast by the early morning of November 11.

“The Low Pressure Area over central parts of South Bay of Bengal lies as a Well Marked Low Pressure Area over southeast and adjoining southwest Bay of Bengal with the associated cyclonic circulation extending upto 5.8 km above mean sea level. It is likely to concentrate into a Depression during next 12 hours over Southwest Bay of Bengal. It is likely to move west–northwestwards and reach near north Tamil Nadu coast by the early morning of 11th November,” a bulletin of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued this morning said.

The IMD area cyclone warning department has in a statement said that rains are expected Wednesday in Cuddalore, Pudukottai, Villupuram, Ramanathapuram, Sivaganga, Puducherry, and Karaikal areas. On Thursday, heavy to very heavy rains are expected in Chennai, Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram, Villupuram, Chengalpattu, and Tiruvannamalai districts.

The IMD has also warned that the whole of Western Tamil Nadu will also receive spells of rain and from November 11 onwards the rainfall would recede.

Schools and colleges in Chennai and many districts have been given holidays for Wednesday and Thursday.

The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), the state police department and revenue officials are on high alert after the India Meteorological Department (IMD) warned of heavy to very heavy rainfall in Chennai and several other districts of Tamil Nadu.

The NDRF has already prepared themselves for any eventuality and more than ten teams of the agency are in Chennai. The NDRF, Police, and revenue teams have, according to sources in TN police, jointly arrived at plans for evacuation and other eventualities if heavy rains lash Chennai and the surrounding areas.

After the death of five people in rain-related incidents at Theni, Madurai, Trichy, and Chennai districts on Tuesday, the departments of revenue and disaster management are not taking any risks. State revenue and disaster management minister, KKSSR Ramachandran while speaking to IANS said,” The department of revenue and disaster management is prepared for any eventuality and the plans are in place for the extreme rainfalls. The NDRF is already positioned and we are coordinating with the state home department for the services of the police to join with the team from revenue and disaster management. Chief Minister, M.K.Stalin is giving all the necessary instructions for the disaster and revenue teams.”

In Chennai, 1723 people have been moved to relief camps which are at 22 places and more than 140 camps are ready to move people into it if rains cause havoc in the city, revenue officials said.

The department of disaster management said that more than 11 lakh food packets have already been distributed for the needy during the past few days of incessant rains throwing life out of gear.

(With IANS inputs)