Chennai: The deep depression over the Bay of Bengal intensified Friday into a cyclone - named Fengal, pronounced 'Feinjal' - and is likely to make a landfall close to Puducherry on Saturday afternoon.
It will cross the Tamil Nadu coast between Karaikal and Mamallapuram, the India Meteorological Department said, with a wind speed of 70-80 km per hour with gusts up 90 kmph.
The weather office has forecast isolated heavy to very heavy rain with extremely heavy rain at one or two places in Chennai, Tiruvallur, Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram, Villuppuram, Kallakurichi, Cuddalore districts and Puducherry. Also, heavy to very heavy rain is likely to occur at isolated places over Ranipet, Tiruvannamalai, Vellore, Perambalur, Ariyalur, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Mayiladuthurai, Nagapattinam districts and Karaikal area.
"The deep depression over southwest Bay of Bengal moved north-northwest at 13 kph in the past six hours (and has) intensified into Cyclonic Storm Fengal... at 2.30 pm (on November 29) it lay 270 km east-southeast of Puducherry and 300 km southeast of Chennai," the IMD said.
"It is likely to move west-northwest and cross north Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coasts between Karaikal and Mamallapuram (but closer to Puducherry) as a Cyclonic Storm during the afternoon 20th November..."
Tamil Nadu minister for revenue and disaster management KKSSR Ramachandran held a meet at the state emergency operations centre here with senior officials to review preparatory and relief measures.
Fishermen have been advised not to venture into the Bay of Bengal till further notice. More than 4,000 boats have returned to shore and 2,229 relief camps were ready for use if needed, the state government said.
Dr S Balachandran, the Director of the Chennai Meteorological Centre, warned of moderate rainfall over northern Tamil Nadu and coastal districts, with some places likely to receive heavy to very heavy rainfall. One or two places will also receive extremely heavy rainfall, he said.
Across Tamil Nadu, the Chennai, Tiruvallur, Chengalpattu, Kanchipuram, Viluppuram, Kallakurichi, and Cuddalore districts have been placed on red alert, as has Puducherry.
An orange alert is in place in Ranipet, Tiruvannamalai, Vellore, Perambalur, Ariyalur, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Mayiladuthurai, Nagapattinam, and Karaikal districts.
Interior districts have also been warned of rainfall as Fengal moves inland after Sunday.
The impact of Cyclone Fengal has already been felt in the southern state.
Ahead of the impact, state capital Chennai is experiencing high tides and gusty winds. The Tamil Nadu government has advised people to remain indoors unless absolutely necessary.
On Thursday heavy rain caused widespread damage to paddy crops across 800 acres in Nagapattinam district. And, this morning, the threat of heavy rain prompted schools and colleges in the Chennai, Chengalpattu and Cuddalore areas to shut for the day. They will remain shut on Saturday as well.
READ | Fengal Brings Heavy Rain To Tamil Nadu, Puducherry; Schools, Colleges Shut
The Navy, meanwhile, has activated a 'comprehensive disaster response plan'.
READ | Tamil Nadu Braces For Fengal, Navy Preps Disaster Response Plan
Under this plan the Eastern Naval Command will work to mitigate any potential impact by focusing on humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, as well as search and rescue ops.
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The Navy is working closely with the state government to ensure rapid response.
Vehicles are being loaded with relief materials, including food, drinking water, and medicines, while specialised Flood Relief Teams (FRTs) are being positioned in vulnerable areas.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin and his Puducherry counterpart, N Rangasamy, have chaired meetings to assess preparedness for the heavy rains and the storm. Mr Stalin has said his government is ready to face the storm and also requested the public to take precautions while outside their homes.
This is the second cyclone in the post-monsoon season to affect the Indian coast after Cyclone Dana, which crossed Odisha as a 'severe' category storm in late October.
With input from agencies
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