The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Depression likely to intensify

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Nov 22, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Depression likely to intensify

Special Correspondent

Likely to move in a west northwesterly direction Stage III cyclone warning flags hoisted at Rameswaram and Pamban ports

CHENNAI: The depression, which lay centred at 400 km east southeast of Pamban on Monday morning, is likely to intensify.

The storm, which remained over the southwest Bay of Bengal on Sunday, is likely to move in a west northwesterly direction, according to the weather office.

Many places in all districts of Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry will experience "moderate to heavy rain" on Tuesday. "Isolated heavy to very heavy rain is likely to occur over coastal Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry. Squally weather with wind speed touching 50-60 km an hour is likely along and off coastal Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry," according to the weather bulletin.

During the 24-hour-period ending 8.30 a.m. Monday, Vedaranyam recorded a rainfall of 8 cm. Nagapattinam, Thiruthuraipoondi, Muthpet and Karaikal in Pondicherry received 5 cm each. Nungambakkam, Meenambakkam, Tambaram and Pattukottai registered 4 cm each.

Stage III cyclone warning flags were hoisted at the Rameswaram and Pamban ports.

The velocity of the wind was strong all through the day, forcing 10,000 fishermen of Rameswaram, Pamban, Mandapam and Thankatchimadam to keep off the sea.

M. Sethurajan, Assistant Director, Fisheries, Rameswaram, said the Fisheries Department stopped issuing tokens to fishermen necessary for venturing into the sea.

As the waves touched the Pampan railway bridge, the trains slowed down their speed.

The district received 12.62 mm of rain during the past 24 hours that ended at 8.30 a.m. on Monday. Rameswaram registered 38.2 mm.

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