Rains continue in Tamil Nadu as the depression over the Bay of Bengal intensifies with the potential to turn into a cyclone.
In the state, Cauvery delta areas have been affected.
India Meteorological Department on Wednesday said heavy to very heavy and extremely heavy rainfall is likely in a few places in Cuddalore and Mayiladuthurai districts, also part of the delta region.
Rains submerged crops, partially and completely, at several places including those in and around Tiruvarur, Thiruthuraipoondi, Muthupettai, Mayilduthurai, Vedaranyam and according to farmers’ rough estimates, crops over at least 2,000 acres were affected.
Chief Minister MK Stalin chaired a meeting to review preparedness, deploying NDRF and state teams to high-risk districts.
According to the IMD, Regional Meteorological Centre’s update on Wednesday morning, the deep depression over southwest Bay of Bengal moved nearly northwards with a speed of 10 kmph and lay centred about 470 km southeast of Nagapattinam, and 670 km south-southeast of Chennai.
The deep depression is very likely to intensify further into a cyclonic storm Fengal — name given by Saudi Arabia — on November 27 and heavy to very heavy rain at a few places and extremely heavy rain at one or two places is likely in Cuddalore and Mayiladuthurai districts.
“The deep depression over the Southwest Bay of Bengal moved north-northwestwards with a speed of 13 kilometers per hour (kmph) during the past 6 hours and lay centred at 0530 hours IST of today,” said the IMD.
“It will continue to move north-northwestwards towards Tamil Nadu coast skirting Sri Lanka coast during subsequent 2 days,” warned IMD.
Parts of Puducherry will also be affected.
Heavy to very heavy rain is likely to occur at isolated places in Chennai, Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram, Chengalpattu, Villupuram, Ariyalur, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam and Pudukkottai districts.
It has been learnt that relief camps, medical teams and round-the-clock emergency operation centers have been established to manage the situation effectively.
“As a heavy rain warning has been issued, I have held a review meeting with the District Collectors of Mayiladuthurai, Villupuram, Nagapattinam, Tiruvarur, Thanjavur and Cuddalore to be ready and to instruct the Ministers to work from the field. The government is ready to face the rain. I request the public to be safe while going out,” Stalin tweeted.
In view of the rains, November 27 has been declared a holiday for schools and colleges, including Tiruvarur, Cuddalore, Nagapattinam, and Mayiladuthurai districts. A holiday has been declared only for schools in Chennai, Chengelpet, Ariyalur, Kanchipuram.
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