Deep depression likely to intensify into cyclonic storm

With parts of Tamil Nadu receiving rains for the third day today, the Met department said the deep depression in the Bay of Bengal is expected to intensify into a cyclonic storm in the next 48 hours, bringing heavy rains in north coastal areas of the state and Puducherry.

"The depression over Southwest Bay of Bengal moved nearly northwards in past six hours and today it is located about 90 km east of Chennai and 70 kms from the (eastern) Coast", the Met department said.

The system was likely to move North-North eastwards and intensify into a cyclonic storm in the next 48 hours, it said in a release.

Under its influence, heavy to very heavy rainfall was expected over north Coastal Tamil Nadu and Puducherry in the next 24 hours.

Rainfall was likely to occur at many places with heavy to very heavy rainfall over south Andhra Pradesh coast during next 48 hours, it said.

style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Squally wind speed reaching 55-65 km would prevail along and off north Tamil Nadu and Puducherry in the next 24 hours. Sea condition would be rough to very rough and fishermen have been advised not to venture out to sea during next 48 hours.

In Chennai and its neighbourhoods, four NDRF teams have been deployed in low lying areas and boats kept ready to rescue people in the event of flooding.

The state government yesterday had directed District Collectors to take all precautionary measures and asked senior civil servants to visit districts which are expected to receive heavy rainfall.

It had also set up a call centre with 1070 number to receive rainfall-related grievances.

Government had also said Chennai and neighbouring districts are expected to receive very heavy rainfall of more than 25 cm and Cuddalore, Villupuram, Thanjavur and Nagapattinam districts, more than 12 cms rainfall.