CYCLONE GAJA EXPECTED TO INTENSIFY; TAMIL NADU, ANDHRA PRADESH & PUDUCHERRY ON RED ALERT

Cyclone Gaja is expected to make landfall on November 15 and is expected to have major impact across the Tamil Nadu coast between Cuddalore and Pamban. As many as 30,500 rescue personnel have been kept on standby, as per the Meteorological office.

While the state government machinery has been put on alert, neighbouring Puducherry is also on high alert and precautionary steps have been taken in the union territory. By Tuesday, the cyclone is very likely to move west southwestwards from 720 km east-northeast of Chennai over the Bay and intensify further into a severe cyclonic storm, the IMD said.

On November 14, there will be rainfall in most places across Tamil Nadu and extremely heavy (over 20 cm) rainfall over isolated places on the next day. Meanwhile, heavy rainfall is expected in the south coastal region of Andhra Pradesh in the next four days and Kerala will also receive rainfall on November 15 and 16.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister E Palaniswami called a high-level meeting at the Secretariat of Ministers and top officials and reviewed preparedness in the state as the forecast predicts a severe storm. Further, Revenue Minister R B Udaya Kumar confirmed that over 30,000 rescue personnel have been kept on standby and arrangements have been made for food and shelter at relief centres.