Zeenews Bureau
Chennai, Nov 26: The metrological department have sounded an alert in the coastal areas of Tamil Nadu as Cyclone Nisha is expected to hit between Nagapattan and Vedranyam coasts by afternoon. As many as 3,500 people have been evacuated and moved to the safer place. The wind speed at the coastal areas was at 50km/hr.
The alert was issued after heavy rains accompanied by gusty winds swept parts of Tamil Nadu forcing authorities to close schools and colleges in Chennai and three other districts on Wednesday.
Collectors of Chennai, Nagapattinam, Thanjavur and Tiruvarur have declared holiday for schools and colleges in their districts, official sources here said.
Met officials said here that during the period isolated heavy rain was likely to occur over coastal Tamil Nadu while isolated rain is likely over interior parts of the state.
Fishermen have been warned not to venture into the sea as strong onshore winds with maximum speed reaching 45-55 km is likely to sweep along Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coast during the next 24 hours.
A report from Rameswaram said wind with a speed of 67 km per hour lashed the island and the cyclone is expected to cross Tamil Nadu coast between Nagapattinam and Pamban on Wednesday night.
Residents in Rameshwaram, already battered by six days of continuous rain, said they had never seen trees waving so wildly and never experienced such a difficulty even to walk on road.
The Rameswaram-Chennai express train, which was scheduled to leave Rameswaram at 5 pm, did not leave the station. Rameswaram-Madurai Passenger, scheduled to leave at 5:30 pm and Rameswaram-Chennai Sethu Express scheduled to leave 8:20 pm also could not move out of the station as the wind was heavy and the waves were touching the Pamban Bridge.
Officials said the trains would leave only after clearance from the authorities. Trains are normally not operated if the wind speed exceeds 55km/hour, they said.
The third storm cone had been hoisted here after a gap of 44 years, they said.
Heavy rain in Puducherry
Puducherry and its suburbs recorded 183.5 mm rainfall during the last 24 hours ending 08.30 hours this morning, official sources told reporters.
All schools would remain closed for the third consecutive day.
All low lying areas were inundated and paddy and banana fields bore the brunt of the heavy rains.
The agricultural department had started collecting details of the extent of damage of crops in the current incessant rains, under the impact of the North East monsoon, a department official said.
Chief Minister V Vaithilingam convened an emergency meeting of officials of the PWD, Agriculture, Forests and other allied departments to review the rain situation and to evolve immediate action plan to relieve the people of the agony of the torrential rains.
Row of trees were seen uprooted at various places with sudden winds hitting the union territory. Normal life continued to be paralysed for the third day today.