Nagapattinam — Cyclone warning signals have been hoisted at nine ports, including Chennai, Nagapattinam and Cuddalore, after a low-pressure area over the Bay of Bengal intensified into a depression, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Sunday. The other ports where signals have gone up include Karaikal, Pamban and Thoothukudi.

Source: ANI via Indian Economic Observer

The depression formed over the east-central and adjoining southeast Bay of Bengal on October 24 and is likely to move northwestwards and intensify further. According to the IMD, the system is expected to develop into a very severe cyclonic storm over the west-central Bay of Bengal off the Andhra Pradesh coast by the morning of October 28, and to cross the Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coasts between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam around forenoon on October 28, with wind speeds of 115-125 kmph gusting to 140 kmph at landfall.

Source: ANI via NewKerala

In Tamil Nadu, fishermen have been prohibited from venturing into the sea for five days from Sunday, until October 29, following the warning of a possible cyclonic storm, IANS reported. The Chennai weather department has forecast heavy rain with thunderstorms, lightning and winds of 40-50 kmph at isolated places in the Nilgiris, Coimbatore, Theni, Dindigul, Madurai, Perambalur, Ariyalur and Tiruchirappalli districts, with rain also likely in Chennai, Cuddalore and Puducherry.

Source: IANS via hi INDiA

Puducherry and neighbouring areas have been experiencing continuous rainfall since Saturday night as the northeast monsoon remains active, with heavy to very heavy rainfall likely to continue in Puducherry, Karaikal and adjoining Tamil Nadu districts. Waterlogging has been reported in several parts of Puducherry, including Coast Road, Krishna Nagar and Laspet, reports said.

In the hill district of the Nilgiris, 62 minor landslips were recorded in the 24 hours ending at 7 a.m. on Sunday, according to district administration data reported by The Hindu. The district recorded cumulative rainfall of 453.9 mm in the period; 15 huts were partly damaged, one hut fully collapsed, 16 revetments were damaged and 28 trees were uprooted.

Source: The Hindu

Conditions across much of Tamil Nadu are expected to improve towards October 28-29, the forecast said. Residents in coastal and hill districts have been advised to follow IMD and district administration advisories as the system approaches the coast.