Cyclone Thane Continues even after devastation

Cyclone Thane Continues even after devastation

Tropical Cyclone Thane will continue tracking westward from the Bay of Bengal and over southern India, but the system will weaken to a tropical depression by Saturday. The region, however, will remain under strong winds, heavy rains and possible flooding.

A dominant ridge of high pressure moving though Mongolia and northeastern China will continue pushing cool and dry air over much of Asia. Beijing will see mostly sunny skies with high temperatures near 4 degrees Celsius, whileShanghai will be sunny with highs near 9 C. To the east, a low pressure system will pull eastward and farther away from Japan, but the back side of this system will push a few patchy clouds and light showers over northern Japan. Tokyo will see partly cloudy skies with highs near 9 C.

Cyclone Thane makes landfall between Cuddalore and Puducherry, devastates area

Leaving major devastation in its wake, Cyclone Thane hit landfall between the Union territory of Puducherry and neighbouring Cuddalore district in Tamil Nadu at about 9 am.

Winds of 140km/h (86mph) have damaged houses and uprooted trees and electricity poles.

"Cyclone Thane has hit landfall between Cuddalore and Puducherry at about 9am and is presently in retreat mode. It will take another hour for the fury to abate," said Puducherry collector S B Deepak Kumar. One person was killed in a house collapse in Puducherry, he told TOI.

As it passed the coastal Puducherry and the sea-side Cuddalore town and villages, the cyclone vented its fury, uprooting trees and electric posts. Power supply had been cut 12 hours ahead of the expected cyclone landfall. "Damages are extensive in Puducherry. We are waiting for the cyclone to retreat before doing an assessment," an official said. Several main roads and interior streets from Puducherry to Cuddalore looked like a war zone, strewn with uprooted trees and electric posts.

Fishermen have been advised not to venture out into the rough sea.

Fishermen in the area have been advised not to go out into sea and disaster management teams have been sent to the coastal districts of Tamil Nadu.

Trains coming in to the Chennai, the capital of Tamil Nadu, have been delayed and the local port is "on high alert" and has asked ships to move out to safe distance, reports say.

People living near natural water reservoirs have been asked to move to safer places as surplus water will be released if the heavy rain continues.

Officials said there would be "heavy to very heavy" rain in parts of Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry and parts of the neighbouring states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Kerala during the next 24 hours.

The territorial administration as well authorities in Cuddalore district had geared up for a possible calamity, evacuating villagers from coastal hamlets and those falling within the danger zone to cyclone shelters on Thursday. The preparations for Cyclone Thane had begun well before it was expected to hit landfall.

Met officers said Cyclone Thane took about three hours to cross coastal Tamil Nadu near Cuddalore and Puducherry. "We are getting reports regarding extensive damages caused due to cyclone", a senior met officer said. He said the cyclone is severe this time since rainfall is less. There will be gradual decrease of rainfall and wind, he said.

Officials said the cyclone would weaken within a few hours. Forecasters have predicted winds of 145 km/h (90mph) and warned of storm surges from the sea.

The cyclone made landfall on the coast between Cuddalore in Tamil Nadu state and the union territory of Pondicherry early on Friday, officials of the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) said.

"The cyclone is in the process of crossing between Cuddalore and Pondicherry coast. The wind speed is around 140 km/h at Pondicherry and Cuddalore. Waves 1.5m high are hitting the shores," an official told the Indian Abroad News Service agency.

Last year, at least 23 people were killed when the southern coast was battered by Cyclone Laila, the worst storm to hit the state of Andhra Pradesh in 14 years. More than 50,000 people had to be evacuated.

Andhra Pradesh saw its worst cyclone in 1977 in which more than 10,000 people were killed.

Source : Times of India, BBC NEWS INDIA