Cyclone Gaja to cross TN coast; Yellow, orange alerts issued in Kerala

Chennai: Cyclone Gaja which is surging over Bay of Bengal is expected to intensify into a severe cyclonic storm and hit Tamil Nadu coasts on Thursday evening or night, said a Met official.

Following weather forecast six districts in Kerala have been issued yellow and orange alerts on Nov 14 and 15. The wind speed would likely be around 80-90 kmph gusting at 100 kmph, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

In its Thursday bulletin, the IMD said the cyclone moved at 14 kmph and lay centred over east-northeast of Nagapattinam at 5.30 a.m.

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Gaja is likely to move west-southwestwards and cross between Pamban and Cuddalore coasts.

The sea condition is very likely to be rough to very rough along and off Tamil Nadu-south Andhra Pradesh and Puducherry coasts Thursday afternoon onwards, the IMD said.

It advised total suspension of fishing operations along Tamil Nadu and Puducherry and adjoining south Andhra Pradesh coasts during the next 24 hours till Friday.

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Schools and colleges have been closed in Thanjavur, Thiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Ramanathapuram and Pudukottai districts in Tamil Nadu and in Karaikal district in Puducherry.

According to the AIADMK government, telecommunication companies have assured they would have oil stocked for a minimum of five days in the cyclone expected zone and for 15 days at their headquarters.

The mobile telephone companies also assured the government of moving their mobile telecom towers or cell on wheels to Nagapattinam and Cuddalore.

The state government has started to send bulk SMS to mobile subscribers to warn them about the bad weather issued by the emergency control centres.

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