Cyclone Fengal Update: The Indian Meteorological Department said on Friday that the deep depression over the Southwest Bay of Bengal intensified into a cyclonic storm on Friday afternoon. According to the report by news agency PTI, the cyclonic storm, named as 'Fengal' and pronounced as 'Feinjal,' is likely to make landfall on November 30 afternoon close to Puducherry.

The minister for revenue and disaster, KKSSR Ramachandran, held a meeting at the state emergency operations centre with the senior officials to review the preparatory and relief measures. 

The IMD has predicted isolated heavy to very heavy rain with extremely heavy rain at one or two places in Chennai, Tiruvallur, Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram, Villuppuram, Kallakurichi, and Cuddalore districts and Puducherry on November 30. Also, heavy to very heavy rain is likely to occur at isolated places over Ranipet, Tiruvannamalai, Vellore, Perambalur, Ariyalur, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, and Mayiladuthurai districts and the Karaikal area.

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Cyclone Fengal: A Look At IMD's Forecast

An IMD-Regional Meteorological Centre's bulletin issued here said: "Morning's deep depression over Southwest Bay of Bengal moved north-northwestwards, intensified into cyclonic storm Fengal (pronounced as Fenjal) and lay centred at 1430 hours IST of today, the 29th November 2024...260 km east of Nagapattinam, 270 km east-southeast of Puducherry and 300 km southeast of Chennai."

Further, it said: "It is likely to move west-northwestwards and cross north Tamil Nadu-Puducherry coasts between Karaikal and Mahabalipuram close to Puducherry as a cyclonic storm with a wind speed of 70-80 kmph gusting to 90 kmph during the afternoon 30th November."

Complying with the advisory, 4,153 boats have returned to shore, and 2,229 relief camps were ready for use if needed, the state government said. As of now, a total of 471 people belonging to 164 families have been accommodated in six relief centers in Tiruvarur and Nagapattinam districts.

The boats, generators, motor pumps, and all other necessary machinery and equipment are ready in districts, and NDRF and state teams have been deployed wherever needed, including Nagapattinam, Mayiladuthurai, Tiruvarur, Cuddalore, Thanjavur, Chengelpet, and Chennai. Senior officials assigned to supervise and coordinate related tasks with district authorities are stationed in their respective districts.

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Chennai and nearby districts of Chengelpet, Kanchipuram, and Tiruvallur, and the delta districts including Mayiladuthurai, Nagappatinam, and Tiruvarur, witnessed light to moderate rainfall, and a few places recorded heavy showers.

Tamil Nadu Govt Shuts Schools

The state government in Tamil Nadu has announced that schools and institutions in the districts of Chennai, Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram, and Chengalpet will be closed on Saturday. Given the forecast of strong gusts and rain, it encouraged educational institutions to avoid holding any extra lessons. 

A red alert has been issued in view of heavy to extremely heavy rainfalls in several parts of Tamil Nadu, South Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, and interior Karnataka.

Puducherry Fisheries Dept Issues Advisory

The Puducherry fisheries department has issued an advisory for the fishermen and has advised them not to venture into the sea. Additionally, the advisory said fishermen should immediately move their fishing boats and equipment to higher ground to avoid damage.