Nada weakens, but TN still remains its target

“From a cyclonic storm, it has weakened into deep depression and in the next 24 hours is likely to cross the coast,” Area Cyclone Warning Centre Director, S Balachandran, told reporters. The weakening of the cyclone brings partial relief to authorities who have put the state machinery on a high alert, deploying NDRF and State Disaster Response teams, and taking elaborate precautionary measures to tackle any eventuality. 

Earlier, the MeT office had said the cyclone would cross the state coast near Cuddalore and under its impact, heavy rains could lash Tamil Nadu and neighbouring Puducherry. The deep depression in the south West Bay now lay about 210 km south east of Puducherry, Balachandran said, adding it would move in the West North Westwardly direction and cross the coast. He said moderate rains were being witnessed in several parts of the state and this was likely to continue. 

Some coastal areas are likely to receive heavy rains, the official said. During and before the land fall of the depression, winds gusting upto 55 kmph are likely in coastal regions, he said. Earlier in the day, Agricultural Production commissioner and Secretary, Gagandeep Singh Bedi, said in Cuddalore that all the 32 revenue districts, including 13 coastal districts were being monitored continuously. 

Almost after a month since the northeast monsoon set on the state, it received its first big rain on Thursday influenced by cyclonic storm Nada, as rightly predicted by the Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) on Wednesday. What started as a mild drizzle at around 4.30 am in Chennai, the rainfall slowly strengthened and became moderate by noon with strong winds blowing at all directions.

However, there was heavy rain in some parts of city in the afternoon. In the afternoon, the sky was overcast for a while before it poured down again in the evening. Due to the intermittent rains, the low-lying areas were under thick sheet of water and the motorists were left to fight traffic under the rain.