Depression in Bay: Distant cautionary signal no 1 raised at Thoothukudi, Pamban

With the depression formed over the Bay of Bengal likely to intensify during the next twenty-four hours and move northwestward across the Odisha coast, and the weather bulletin warning of squally winds with a velocity of 40-50 kilometres per hour, fishermen were advised not to venture into sea. Fishing activity off the coastal districts of Thoothukudi, Ramanathapuram and Kanniyakumari continued to remain suspended.

Owing to the high wind velocity, trains normally scheduled en route to Pamban departed from Mandapam instead of Ramanathapuram, sources said. However, activities concerning cargo traffic movement at the Thoothukudi port were not affected. Only when storm warning signals beyond levels four and five are raised would such activities be suspended, sources said.

Sea waves were found to be rising to unusually high levels on shore at Arichal Munai in Ramanathapuram district. According to E. Kathavarayan, the regional deputy director of Fisheries department in Ramanathapuram, wave rise levels would be high under such circumstances at the region since Arichal Munai was the merging point of the sea at the Gulf of Mannar and Palk Bay. The public have been cautioned not to visit the shore citing safety concerns. Moreover, fishermen dwelling close to the shore have also been advised to stay safe, sources said.

Apart from those fishermen with mechanised boats who are normally permitted to venture into sea after being issued tokens, country-craft fishermen are also restricted from fishing, Kathavarayan said.