New Delhi: Southern Tamil Nadu and neighbouring Kerala were on high alert as Cyclone Burevi, which weakened into a deep depression, inched closer to the southern states on Friday.
The deep depression is likely to cross Ramanathapuram and adjoining Tuticorin district in six hours with wind speed of 50-60 kmph, according to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD).
Meanwhile, flight operations in three airports in Tamil Nadu and Kerala have been suspended as a precautionary measure.
The IMD had earlier predicted that Cyclone Burevi, which crossed the Sri Lanka coast on Wednesday night, would hit the Tamil Nadu coast as a cyclonic storm.
“Deep Depression over Gulf of Mannar at 0530 IST today (Friday) is close to Ramanathapuram District coast remained practically stationary, about 40 km southwest of Ramanathapuram, 70 km west-southwest of Pamban. The associated wind speed is about 55-65 gusting to 75 kmph,” IMD said in its morning update on Friday.
The system is very likely to weaken further into a depression (wind speed 45-55 kmph gusting to 65 kmph) during the next 12 hours, the IMD added.
Heavy to very heavy rainfall are very likely to occur at a few places in south Tamil Nadu and at isolated places over Kerala during the next 24 hours.
Also, heavy rainfall is very likely to occur at isolated places in south coastal Andhra Pradesh and Lakshadweep.
