North T.N. to get heavy rainfall

Chennai to get mild showers for next two days; fishermen advised not to venture into the sea

With the deep depression over Bay of Bengal intensifying into Cyclone ‘Gaja’ on Sunday, there is likely to be heavy rainfall in most places in north coastal Tamil Nadu and the adjoining south coastal Andhra Pradesh from evening of November 14, according to the IMD bulletin.

On November 15, the intensity of rain will increase gradually at most places and it will be heavy to very heavy at a few places and extremely heavy (above 20 cm) at isolated places over north Tamil Nadu. Rainfall is likely to be heavy to very heavy over south Tamil Nadu, south Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Rayalaseema.

100 kmph wind

Squally wind speed reaching 45-55 kmph is likely to commence along and off north Tamil Nadu–south Andhra Pradesh coasts from November 14 morning.

It is very likely to increase gradually, with a speed of 80-90 kmph off north Tamil Nadu–south Andhra Pradesh coasts over west-central and adjoining southwest Bay of Bengal from midnight onwards.

As the sea will be rough, fishermen have been advised to not venture in from 12 November. Fishermen, who were in deep sea, have been advised to return by November 12, the officials said.

As for Chennai, the sky will be cloudy and some areas will get mild showers for the next two days. While the maximum temperature will be 32 degrees Celsius, the minimum temperature will be 24 degrees Celsius.

‘No need to fear’

In view of the cyclone alert, the National Emergency Response Centre (NERC) of the Disaster Management Division under the Union Ministry of Home Affairs on Sunday alerted State governments concerned.

“The State governments are advised to keep a close watch, monitor the situation in their areas regularly and take appropriate precautionary measures. District authorities are to be advised accordingly. It is also requested that the MHA may be kept informed about any developments in this regard at the NERC control room,” a communication from the NERC stated.

Meanwhile, Commissioner of Revenue Administration K. Satyagopal, while interacting with reporters in Tirunelveli, clarified, “It is not a red alert. Unnecessarily, a wrong message should not reach the people. The red colour coding is only to indicate the possibility of heavy rains across Tamil Nadu on November 15. It was an internal communication. The IMD has four colour coding. So, there is no need to be afraid.”

Unwilling to take any risks, the State government convened a meeting of officials to discuss disaster preparedeness, sources said.