Chennai, November 15: Cyclonic Storm Gaja intensified on Thursday as it is expected to make a landfall between Cuddalore and Pamban by the evening of November 15. The changing weather conditions will bring heavy rainfall to coastal regions of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Puducherry. Gaja is likely to intensify further and is believed to cause damage to hutments and thatched houses. On Thursday afternoon around 11.45 am, 'Gaja' was over southwest and adjoining southeast and west central Bay of Bengal, about 240 km northeast of Nagapattinam.

A red alert has been issued by the IMD in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. The state government of Tamil Nadu has kept over 30,000 rescue personnel on standby and all educational institutions in Puducherry and Karaikal regions will remain closed today. Meanwhile, the district collectors of Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Pudukottai, Nagapattinam, Cuddalore and Ramanathapuram have declared a holiday for schools and colleges on Thursday. Cyclone Gaja to Hit Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh on November 14, Heavy to Very Heavy Rainfall to Lash the Southern States.

In the wake of the weather conditions, the NDMA has issued a Do's and Don'ts list:

Take a Look at the Forecast and intensity of Cyclone Gaja:

Date/Time

(IST)

 Position

(Lat. 0N/ long. 0E)

 Maximum sustained surface

wind speed (Kmph)

 Category of cyclonic disturbance
15.11.18/1130 11.2/82.0 90-100 gusting to 115 Severe Cyclonic Storm
15.11.18/1730 10.9/81.0 90-100 gusting to 115 Severe Cyclonic Storm
15.11.18/2330 10.7/79.8 80-90 gusting to 100 Cyclonic Storm
16.11.18/0530 10.6/78.7 55-65 gusting to 75 Deep Depression
16.11.18/1130 10.5/77.6 40-50 gusting to 60 Depression
16.11.18/2330 10.5/75.4 20-30 gusting to 40 Low

Damages expected in several districts:

  1. A storm surge of the height of about 1.0 meter above astronomical tide is very likely to inundate low lying areas of Nagapattinam, Thanjavur, Pudukkottai and Ramanathapuram districts of Tamil Nadu and Karaikal district of Puducherry at the time of landfall.

  2. Major damage to thatched huts/houses, rooftops may blow off and unattached metal sheets may fly. Damage to power and communication lines. Major damage to Kutcha & minor damage to Pucca roads.

  3. Breaking of tree branches and uprooting of large avenue trees. Damage to paddy crops, banana, papaya trees and orchards. Seawater inundation in low lying areas after erosion of Kutcha embankments.

The intensity of the cyclone is expected to cause a major impact for nearly six  hours after its landfall causing heavy rainfall in various places, the IMD informed. Strong wind speed reaching 30-40 kmph gusting to 50 kmph very likely over interior Tamilnadu, Kerala, southeast Arabian Sea along & off Kerala coast, Comorian area, Gulf of Mannar and Palk Strait on November 16.

According to the IMD, after the landfall on Thursday, the cyclonic storm is likely to retain its intensity of cyclone for about six hours. Hence gale wind speed reaching 60-70 kmph gusting to 80 kmph is likely to prevail over adjoining interior districts of Tamilnadu. Moreover, heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places and isolated extremely heavy rainfall is also likely over these interior districts during the same period.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 15, 2018 04:01 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).