AMN /
The Meterological department has warned a very severe cyclonic storm Vardah in the adjoining southwest Bay of Bengal moved west south westwards and cross North Tamil Nadu and South Andhra Coast close to Chennai by Monday evening.
Chennai is facing cyclone threat for the first time in 22 years. Presently it lays at a distance of 330 kms east of Chennai and 340 km towards Nellore Andhra Pradesh. The Cyclone warning centre has warned of a storm surge of about one metre above astronomical tide was expected at the time of the landfall.
The rainfall intensity will increase gradually at a few places from 7 to 20 cms tomorrow. The wind speed reaching up to 100 kmph may occur during the landfall along and off Chennai and the northern parts of the state.
District administrations in Chennai, Kanchipuram and Tiruvallur will remain closed tomorrow. A circular from the State Labour department has been sent to private companies to declare a holiday as the cyclone is likely to cross near Chennai.
The meeting chaired by Chief Minister O. Paneerselvam has asked the district administration and all field officers of Chennai, Kanchipuram, Tiruvallur and Villupuram districts to be on high alert.
The Government has appointed senior IAS officers to monitor cyclone related works in close co-ordination. The local bodies have been put on alert and asked to make arrangements for supply of chlorinated drinking water and to fill up all overhead tanks for ensuring drinking water supply.
Health department to take measures to organise special camps and to pre-position generators, emergency supplies, medicines and oxygen cylinders.