Cyclone likely to hit Tamil Nadu, Andhra, Puducherry tomorrow, Army & Navy on standby

Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and the Union Territory of Puducherry have been put on high alert as a cyclone is brewing over the Bay of Bengal and is expected to hit the coast tomorrow. Teams of the NDRF, Army, Navy and Coast Guard are on standby for rescue operations that may be required due to the cyclone.

According to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), the depression is centering over the southeast Bay of Bengal, about 900 km southeast of Chennai. The depression is likely to intensify into a cyclone storm by this evening. It is likely to hit the coasts of Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and South Andhra Pradesh by tomorrow morning.

The cyclonic storm, which will be named Cyclone Mandous, is expected to bring heavy to very heavy rainfall in coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh and most parts of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. The rainfall will also be accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning, IMD said.

The IMD has predicted heavy rain in Tamil Nadu on December 8 and has issued a red alert for 13 districts. Accordingly, six teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been deployed in Tamil Nadu ahead of December 8. These include Nagapattinam, Thanjavur, Thiruvarur, Cuddalore, Mayiladuthurai, and Chennai.

In Puducherry and Karaikal, three teams of NDRF will be deployed in view of the heavy rain. Two control rooms and healthcare centres will be functional when the cyclone passes through the coast.

The weather has also advised fishermen not to venture out as sea conditions in the Andaman Sea and some parts of the Bay of Bengal, as well as coastal areas of Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Andhra Pradesh, will be very rough in the next few days.

Reviewing preparedness, Cabinet Secretary Gauba stressed that preventive and precautionary measures should be taken by authorities of state and union territory governments and central agencies concerned.

“The aim should be that there is no loss of lives and to minimise damage to property and infrastructure such as power and telecom, and in case of damage to this infrastructure, it must be restored in the quickest possible time,” a statement said.

CYCLONE MANDOUS

The low-pressure area formed over the Bay of Bengal on December 5 is likely to continue to move west-northwestward, intensify further into a cyclonic storm, and reach the southwest Bay of Bengal near north Tamil Nadu-Puducherry and adjoining south Andhra Pradesh coasts by the morning of December 8.

The cyclonic storm will be named Cyclone Mandous, the name given by the United Arab Emirates, which means “treasure box” in Arabic