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Flight operations remained hit in Tamil Nadu on Thursday and schools remained closed in over nine districts of the Southern state
Fishermen move a boat away from the sea amidst a warning issued by the India Meteorological Department. (PTI photo)
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has said Cyclone Fengal in the Bay of Bengal is likely to intensify in the next 24 hours with a wind speed of up to 85 kmph. It will later weaken and cross the north Tamil Nadu-Puducherry coasts between Karaikal and Mahabalipuram as a deep depression.
In its latest bulletin, the Met Office said, “Deep Depression over Southwest Bay of Bengal moved northwards with a speed of 2 kmph during past six hours located near latitude 9.1°N and longitude 82.1°E, about 110 km east-northeast of Trincomalee.”
It added, “To cross north Tamil Nadu-Puducherry coasts between Karaikal and Mahabalipuram on November 30 morning as a deep depression with a wind speed of 50-60 kmph gusting to 70 kmph. There is a possibility of marginal intensification of the deep depression into a cyclonic storm with wind speed 65-75kmph gusting to 85 kmph over southwest Bay of Bengal during the evening of November 28 to morning of November 29.”
Flights affected, schools closed
Rains continue unabated in most parts of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, crippling lives of people. The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) Chennai, has issued an orange alert for “very heavy” rains on November 28. Flight operations remained hit in Tamil Nadu on Thursday and schools remained closed in over nine districts of the Southern state due to heavy rains. Educational institutes in Karaikal and Puducherry also remained closed.
Crops impacted
Intermittent rains continued on Wednesday in the state’s Cauvery delta areas affecting standing paddy crops. Crops were submerged partially and completely at several places, including those in and around Tiruvarur, Thiruthuraipoondi, Muthupettai, Mayiladuthurai, and Vedaranyam, and according to farmers’ rough estimates, crops on at least 2,000 acres were affected.
Also, huge acreage of salt pans in the districts of Nagapattinam (Vedaranyam) and Villupuram (Marakkanman) came under water.
AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami expressed shock over reports that 1,500 acres of paddy crop have been affected in Thiruthuraipoondi (Tiruvarur district) and demanded that officials inspect rain-hit areas and urged the DMK regime to provide appropriate relief to farmers.
Farmers leader PR Pandian alleged that canals and rivers were not properly desilted in the delta areas.
Indian Navy on standby
Meanwhile, in anticipation of the impact of the cyclone, the Navy is gearing up to render all necessary support to the vulnerable areas in coordination with state and civil administration. This includes loading vehicles with food, drinking water, medicines and other High Availability Disaster Recovery (HADR) relief materials as well as positioning Flood Relief Teams (FRTs) for quick response.
The Indian Navy said diving teams were also on standby for emergency rescue operations.
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