Puducherry: Intermittent rains continued through Thursday in the region even as authorities geared up for a meteorological department forecast for heavy rains in the Puducherry and Karaikal regions in the next 48 hours under the influence of Nada cyclone in the bay. The coastal town used to get maximum rainfall in the month of October and November as part of northeast monsoon but the monsoon failed this year and Puducherry received rain now under the influence of the cyclone.
The territorial administration is fully geared up to tackle cyclone Nada, which is expected to cross the coast between Vedaranyam and Puducherry, close to Cuddalore, on Friday. About 179 cyclone shelters have been readied across Puducherry, and nine central kitchens to supply food to over 50,000 people. Residents in distress could contact the toll-free help lines 1070 and 1077. Around 40 Rapid Response Teams have also been kept on stand-by to carry out evacuations.
Warning signal number two was hoisted at the port here and fishermen were advised not to venture into the sea. All schools declared holiday for Thursday and Friday. The government has put in place all necessary disaster management arrangements, said Lt Governor Kiran Bedi. Development Commissioner Narendra Kumar held a meeting with officials of the PWD and other departments concerned with relief and rehabilitation works.
Puducherry revenue minister M O H F Shajahan inspected the arrangements made by the administration on Thursday. The minister convened a meeting of senior officials and reviewed the arrangements, in which Development commissioner Narendra Kumar, Sundaravadivalu (District Collector in-charge), SSP Ghawas among others participated.
