File photo of Kanyakumari
New Delhi: A cyclonic storm may hit southern coasts of Tamil Nadu and Kerala during the next 24 hours, the Cyclone Warning Division of the India Meteorological Department (IMD), warned today. It said that yesterday’s depression over southeast Bay of Bengal had moved westwards and intensified into a deep depression over southwest and adjoining southeast Bay of Bengal in the early morning (0530 hrs IST) today.
Heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places with isolated extremely heavy falls are very likely over South Tamil Nadu (Kanyakumari, Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi, Tenkasi, Ramanathapuram and Sivagangai) on December 2 and 3; and over south Kerala (Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta and Alappuzah) on December 3, it warned.
Prevailing rough to very rough sea condition over southeast Bay of Bengal will continue today and very rough to high over southeast and adjoining southwest Bay of Bengal and along and off east Sri Lanka coast during today and tomorrow, and rough to very rough over Comorin Area, Gulf of Mannar and along and off south Tamil Nadu-Kerala coasts from December 2 to 4.
Squally wind speed reaching 50-60 kmph gusting to 70 kmph very likely over central parts of South Bay of Bengal during next 12 hours. It would gradually increase becoming gale wind speed reaching 60-70 kmph gusting to 80 kmph over southwest and adjoining southeast Bay of Bengal from today evening. It would gradually increase becoming 70-80 kmph gusting to 90 kmph over southwest Bay of Bengal, along and off Sri Lanka coast from December 2 morning for subsequent 24 hours.
Squally wind speed reaching 45-55 kmph gusting to 65 kmph is very likely over Comorin Area, Gulf of Mannar and south Tamil Nadu-Kerala coasts from tomorrow forenoon. It will gradually increase becoming 55-65 kmph gusting to 75 kmph over Gulf of Mannar, along and off south Tamil Nadu and Kerala coasts, over Comorin Area, Lakshadweep-Maldives area and adjoining southeast Arabian Sea from December 3 morning and 70-80 kmph gusting to 90 kmph from evening of December 3 for subsequent 24 hours.
IMD advises total suspension of fishing operation during December 1 to 4.
In the meantime, Cabinet Secretary, Rajiv Gauba chaired the National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) meeting here today through video conferencing with the Chief Secretaries of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Advisor Lakshadweep and Secretaries of different ministries.
The Chief Secretaries of Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Advisor, Lakshadweep briefed the NCMC about their preparedness and arrangements by District Disaster Management Committees in the concerned districts, warning to fishermen and deployment of rescue teams.
The National Disaster Relief Force teams have been positioned in these areas and the some teams have been kept on stand-by across Tamil Nadu.
It may be mentioned that less than a week ago, on December 26, Severe Cyclonic Storm ‘Nivar’ had hit coastal Tamil Nadu, killing at least 3 persons and damaging many huts besides uprooting hundreds of trees.
– globalbihari bureau
