Today cyclone Gaja set to make landfall as it has moved nearer to TN coast
Posted on: 15/Nov/2018 9:52:02 AM
The latest news is cyclone Gaja over Bay of Bengal is at about 470 km south-east from Chennai. On Thursday, 15th of November 2018, this cyclone Gaja would make landfall between Cuddalore and Pamban and there would be heavy rainfall in the state of Tamil Nadu.
According to the meteorological office predictions it is now said that ‘Gaja’ that lay over south-west and adjoining southeast and west-central Bay of Bengal is about 550 km northeast of Nagapattinam. It would cross the coast between Pamban and Cuddalore on Thursday evening or night with wind speeds up to 100kmph. It is important to note that about 30,500 rescue personnel were kept as standby. The schools and colleges located in places like Thanjavur, Thiruvarur, Pudukottai, Nagapattinam, Cuddalore and Ramanathapuram would be closed on Thursday on the account of heavy rains. In the view of cyclone all the schools and colleges located in Puducherry and Karaikal would also remain closed. Recently Central Water Commission or CWC had advised for constant vigil over the dams. According to the TN revenue minister, Mr. R.B. Udayakumar, all the dams, lakes plus river channels were monitored continuously. As per the standard operation procedure or SOP, CWC had advised action as heavy rainfall in the catchment areas could fill up the dams at faster rates in less than 24 hours of time.
The districts belonging to Cuddalore and Nagapattinam could witness the impact of cyclone during the landfall and at this point of time mobile connectivity is very essential. The minister spoke about how the mobile operators have assured to move ‘Cell on Wheels’, mobile platforms so that there would be uninterrupted mobile connectivity in the above mentioned districts. Tamil Nadu revenue minister later threw light on how the government held discussions with the oil marketing firms and how these firms were advised to maintain sufficient stocks of fuel. A list of what to do and what not to do have been circulated to the people on the eve of cyclone and fishermen were asked not to venture into the sea. The minister added that the people must not panic as the steps to counter possible disaster has already been taken by the government.
It is known that the meteorological office had warned about the storm surge of about 1.0 metre and how it would flood low lying places of Nagapattinam, Pudukottai, Thanjavur and Ramanathapuram districts of TN and Karaikal district of Puducherry during landfall. The thatched huts were in danger and rooftops might blow off was also cautioned by the IMD. There were also warnings given by IMD regarding communication and power lines getting affected.
IMD also warned about how the areas that were lying low would be affected as the water would intrude and how the standing crops would be damaged.
