Chennai: With the depression over south-west Bay of Bengal expected to move up further along the eastern coastline, a cyclone alert which had been issued for north Tamil Nadu and south coastal Andhra Pradesh in next 48 hours, has bypassed the Indian coastline and moved towards Bangladesh.
The Met office on Tuesday, predicted more rains with the depression intensifying by early Wednesday morning. Four National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams were deployed in Chennai after the heavy showers.
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"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.
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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. 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.
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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 on Tuesday 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.
Fishermen were warned not to venture into the sea in the next 48 hours. Traveling at 7 0kmph, the system would come close to Chennai coast and curve along Andhra Coast.
On Tuesday, Chennai airport recorded 11.5 cms of rainfall while Nungambakkam station recorded 12.7cms of rainfall. Storage levels in the city reservoirs have seen a slight rise as Poondy recorded 902 mcft on Tuesday. Levels at Cholavaram, Red Hills and Chembarambakkam were recorded at 84 mcft, 1671 mcft and 2374mcft respectively.
