NASA-NOAA’s Suomi NPP satellite passed over the Bay of Bengal, Northern Indian Ocean and captured a visible image of Tropical Cyclone. It strengthened into a tropical storm and was renamed Gaja
Six districts in TN — Cuddalore, Nagapattinam, Ramanathapuram, Thiruvarur, Pudukkottai, Thanjavur — have announced a holiday for schools and colleges on Thursday, as a preventive measure.
Tamil Nadu State Disaster Management Authority (TNSDMA) has updated that the cyclone over west-central and adjoining east-central and south Bay of Bengal has moved west-southwestwards. It is expected to make landfall between Pamban in Ramanathapuram district and Cuddalore district.
India Meteorological Department issued a bulletin at 2 pm on Wednesday which stated,“It is very likely to move west-southwestwards and intensify further into a severe cyclonic storm during next 12 hours. While moving west-southwestwards further, it is likely to weaken gradually on 15th November and cross Tamil Nadu coast between Pamban and Cuddalore during 15th November evening as a cyclonic storm with a wind speed of 80-90 gusting to 100 kilometres per hour.” Also it predicted that the low-lying areas in Nagapattinam, Thanjavur, Pudukkottai, and Ramanathapuram district of Tamil Nadu and Karaikal district of Puducherry are likely to witness storm surge of about 1.0 meter above astronomical tide.
The bulletin is marked Orange, which means to ‘Be prepared.’
It has cautioned about the probable onslaught saying,“Major damage to thatched huts/houses, roof tops may blow off and unattached metal sheets may fly. Damage to power and communication lines. Major damage to Kutcha and minor damage to Pucca roads. Breaking of tree branches and uprooting of large avenue trees. Damage to paddy crops, banana, papaya trees and orchards. Sea water inundation in low lying area after erosion of Kutcha embankments.”
Also it has advised the fishermen to suspend the fishing operation along and off Tamil Nadu and Puducherry and adjoining south Andhra Pradesh coasts till November 15.