Weather Alert: Cabinet Secy Reviews Preparedness At NCMC Meet On Deep Depression

Delhi: In view of the deep depression emerging along the Southern coast of Tamil Nadu and Kerala, Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba chaired a meeting of National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) here on Tuesday. During the video conferencing with Chief Secretaries of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Advisor Lakshadweep and Secretaries of different ministries, he took stock of their preparedness.

The Director General of India Meteorological Department (IMD) informed the meeting that winds of different speed are likely to affect the Southern coast of Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Lakshadweep with heavy to very heavy rainfall from December 2 to 4. He called for complete suspension of fishing activities up to December 4.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Tuesday issued a pre-Cyclone watch for South Tamil Nadu and South Kerala coasts as the deep depression over Southwest and adjoining Bay of Bengal is likely to intensify into a cyclonic storm.

The Cabinet Secretary asked the State Governments and Central Ministries to ensure that all necessary actions are taken to ensure that damage is minimum and necessary preparations are made to restore essential services at the earliest.

In its earlier release, the IMD stated that the depression over South-East Bay of Bengal intensified into a deep depression and moved westwards. The depression was centered over the same region about 500 km east-southeast of Trincomalee (Sri Lanka) and 900 km east-south-east of Kanyakumari.

It is likely to intensify further into a cyclonic storm during the next 24 hours, the release stated. It is very likely to move west-northwest wards and cross Sri Lanka coast during December 2 evening. It is very likely to move nearly westwards thereafter emerge into Gulf of Mannar and adjoining Comorin area on December 3 morning before moving westward towards south Tamil Nadu coast.