’Jal’ disrupts normal life in Tamil Nadu

PTI

Chennai, 08 November 2010: Copious rains, brought by cyclonic storm ‘Jal’, today disrupted normal life here and in other parts of Tamil Nadu inundating low-lying areas, while two persons were killed in rain-related incidents. Over 10,000 families living in low lying areas in the city have been accommodated in community halls and schools.

 

Chennai corporation authorities have set up four massive kitchens to prepare food for these families, officials said. A weather bulletin said that the cyclone moved westwards and lay centred at 1430 hrs over southwest Bay of Bengal about 150 km east-southeast of Chennai and 280 km south-southeast of Nellore, 450 km north of Trincomalee (Sri Lanka).

 

‘Jal’ would move west-northwestwards, slightly weaken further and cross north Tamil Nadu and south Andhra Pradesh coasts between Chennai and Nellore as a cyclonic storm tonight, it said. Rain or thundershower would occur at most places with heavy to very heavy falls at a few places and isolated extremely heavy falls (25 cm) over north Tamil Nadu and Puducherry during next 24 hours beginning 0830 hrs today.

 

 

Isolated heavy to very heavy falls would occur over Rayalaseema and South Coastal Andhra Pradesh in the same period, it said. Gales reaching 90 kmph would prevail along and off North Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and south Andhra Pradesh coasts. Sea conditions will be rough.

 

A 50-year-old man died here today when a branch fell on him due to strong winds, police said. At Kanyakumari in Nagercoil district, a 38-year-old man, who went for sightseeing near the beach, slipped from a rock and was washed away by the high waves. The victim’s body was later recovered, they said, adding he hailed from Bangalore.

 

Chennai had been experiencing intermittent rains since last night. It recorded a rainfall of three centimetres till 1430 hours today, the weather office said. Being a Sunday, most residents preferred to remain home. Most cinema houses reported thin attendance, a rare phenomenon on an off-day.

 

Schools and colleges would tomorrow remain closed in Chennai, Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur districts. If the cyclone hits the Chennai coast, it would be the first one to do so in 44 years. The last such incident was recorded in 1996. Fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea as winds reaching speed of 60 to 70 kmph are likely along the coasts of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.

 

The Tamil Nadu government has put coastal districts on a high alert and advised people living in low lying areas to move to safe places. The Puducherry administration has also declared a holiday for schools. In Chennai, Deputy Chief Minister M.K. Stalin visited rain affected areas and ordered authorities to extend all possible help to the affected people.

 

He told reporters that officials had been put on a high alert. “Rubber boats have been kept ready in case of any emergency for rescuing people in low lying areas,” he said. Flight arrivals were also affected due to rains here. Two Chennai-bound flights from Port Blair and one from Delhi were diverted to Bangalore due to bad weather, airport sources said.

 

However, Bus and train services including the electric multiple unit (EMU) service remained unaffected. More than 50 trees were uprooted in Chennai due to strong winds, police said. At Yanam, an enclave of Puducherry in Andhra Pradesh, more than 150 families in five villages were shifted to community halls or cyclone shelter following torrential rains, officials said.

 

Puducherry Revenue Minister Malladi Krishna Rao visited the rain—ravaged areas. Meanwhile, a flood alert has been issued at Hogenakkal in Tamil Nadu’s Dharmapuri district following heavy rain. Cautionary signal number 10 was hoisted in Chennai and Ennore ports, while cautionary signal three at Nagapattinam, Pamban, Tuticorin, Colachel, Rameshwaram ports, officials said.

 

In Puducherry, cautionary signal eight was hoisted. Nagapattinam District Collector C Munianathan said the administration has taken all steps to help people in the event of a cyclone hitting the coast. The sea was very rough and fishermen did not venture into the sea for the second consecutive day, he said.

 

“PWD has kept ready more than 85,000 sand bags to plug breaches, if reported in rivers. A 24-hour flood control room is also functioning at Nagapattinam collectorate to provide information to the public,” he said. Both Nagapattinam and Salem district authorities have also announced holiday for schools tomorrow.