The Indian Meteorological Department has issued an ‘Orange alert’ in 13 districts in the state of Tamil Nadu on Thursday and 12 districts on Friday. There are possibilities of a cyclonic storm today in the Bay of Bengal which may affect these districts severely and may cause very heavy rains.
The Tamil Nadu government has said the state emergency control center and district emergency control centers will be in operation round the clock and relief camps are also being set up in the state.
If the storm develops today it will be called Cyclone Mandous, as suggested by the United Arab Emirates. The cyclone is expected to reach the southwest Bay of Bengal, off the coasts of north Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, and adjoining south Andhra Pradesh by December 8. It will continue to move west-north-westwards during the next 48 hours.
The districts which may be affected on December 8, 2022, are Tiruvallur, Chennai, Kancheepuram, Chengalpattu, Villupuram, Kallakurichi, Cuddalore, Ariyalur, Perambalur, Mayiladuthurai, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, and Nagapattinam. The other 12 districts which may be affected the next day are Tiruvallur, Chennai, Kancheepuram, Chengalpattu, Villupuram, Tiruvannamalai, Ranipet, Vellore, Tirupattur, Krishnagiri, Dharmapuri, and Salem.
The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has made five teams to handle the situation in case of a storm for the state and three teams for Puducherry, according to an official statement. Teams are also being kept on standby for Andhra Pradesh and they will be mobilized as per the requirement. When the state government will need these teams the NDRF will immediately deploy them for rescue and other operations said an IMD statement.
The authorities have also kept the rescue and relief teams of the army and the navy along with ships and aircraft on standby. Coastguards’ help may also be sought. They are ready with their vessels. Rajiv Gauba, cabinet secretary who heads the National Crisis Management Committee has already reviewed the preparedness of central ministries, agencies, and state and union territory governments for the possible cyclonic storm over the Bay of Bengal, the statement said.
