Chennai: A low-pressure system over the South Andaman Sea is gradually turning into a depression over the Bay of Bengal and is very likely to bring more rains to Tamil Nadu.
Under the influence of a new system, Tamil Nadu may experience more rains in the next 24 hours. With Cyclone Ockhi weakening and a low pressure being formed, northern and coastal parts of Tamil Nadu including Thiruvanmalai, Villipuram and Cuddalore belt will get heavy rains. Western districts of Theni, Dindigul, Coimbatore and Nilgiris are also to witness heavy rainfall, the Regional Meteorological Center said on Saturday.
The depression is very likely to intensify further and move towards north Tamil Nadu and south Andhra Pradesh coasts during the next 3-4 days, said a RMC bulletin.
Heavy rains continued in several parts of the state on Saturday affecting normal life, while Kanyakumari, Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi are slowly returning to normalcy after having been ravaged by Cyclone Ockhi on Thursday and Friday.
"The well-marked low-pressure area over the south Andaman Sea and adjoining Strait of Malacca is very likely to become a depression over southeast Bay of Bengal and neighbourhood during the next 36 hours. Heavy rainfall can be expected in coastal regions of Tamil Nadu. While Sathanur in Tiruvannamalai district recorded the highest rainfall of 23 cm ending till 8.30 am on Saturday, Coonoor and Cuddalore recorded 12.7 cm and 12.3 cm rain respectively", S Balachandran, Director, Regional Meteorological Centre, said.
Power supply was restored in Kanyakumari while the authorities are making efforts to restore power supply in neighbouring areas of Nagercoil and Kuzhithurai, which is likely to be restored by Sunday. Train services were also affected leading to the cancellation of Mumbai CSTM-Kanniyakumari Express, while five of them were partially cancelled and one remained rescheduled.
Chennai and neighbouring districts are expected to get one or two spells of light to moderate rains. Maximum and minimum temperatures are likely to be around 31 degree Celsius and 25 C respectively, RMC said on Saturday.
Over 100 fishermen still missing at sea
More than 100 fishermen from different parts of Tamil Nadu were reported to be missing from Kanyakumari and Tirunelveli and according to the reports reaching the state disaster management centre here in Chennai. As many as 76 fishermen were rescued on Friday and another 97 fishermen were found safe on Saturday.
"The rescued fishermen have been admitted to different government hospitals in coastal Kerala and Tamil Nadu. We are in touch with the chief secretary of Kerala and the senior officials of the Indian Coast Guard and Navy to identify the missing TN fishermen", K. Satyagopal, commissioner, disaster management told DC.
The state has sounded an alert. Both the fisheries department and state disaster response force are taking up relief work in flood hit coastal districts and more than 1,500 people have been evacuated due to heavy rains and relief centres were opened, the commissioner said.
The rains continued to last the southern districts for the second consecutive day. Vaigai, Bhavani Sagar, Mettur, Pechiparai, Perunchani, Courtrallam, Papanaasam and Manimutharu dams received a heavy inflow for the third consecutive day.
All the twelve dams in Nilgiris brimmed due to heavy rains in Mudumalai and Sathyamangalam tiger reserves.
Heavy rains in Anamalai tiger reserve and Kalakad Mundanthurai tiger reserve also brought inflow into dams, including Amaravati, Pollachi, Aazhiyar, Sholayar Servayalayur and Tirumuruthy.
As a safety measure waterfalls, including Panatheertham, Courtallam, Suruli falls in southern districts were closed for tourists. Train services between Nagarcoil, Thiruvanadapuram, Tirunelveli and Kanniya-kumari were also disrupted on Saturday.
Earlier in the day, health minister Vijayabhaskar said steps have been taken to prevent possible outbreak of any epidemic in rain-hit areas of Kanyakumari and Tirunelveli. Health department officials are monitoring the situation in rain-affected areas of Kanyakumari, Tirunelveli and Tuticorin, Vijayabhaskar told reporters here. Rescue and relief works are being undertaken on a war footing in these areas, he said.
