Tamil Nadu Gets Moderate To Heavy Rainfall Due To Cyclone Mandous

Cyclone Mandous: As many as 16,000 police personnel and 1,500 Home guards have been deployed here for security, relief and rescue tasks, and a 40-member team of TN State Disaster Response Force

Northern coastal Tamil Nadu witnessed light to moderate rainfall and some places heavy showers as the cyclonic storm 'Mandous' continued to move further closer to the State's coastline, and it is set to cross the coast near here starting midnight, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Friday.

Under the influence of the cyclonic storm, widespread rainfall -- light to moderate and heavy rainfall-- was witnessed on December 9 in coastal areas and other parts of the State. An IMD official said Kodaikanal recorded 5 CM rains. People in vulnerable areas have been accommodated in relief shelters.

Head of IMD-Regional Meteorological Centre S Balachandran told reporters that between Chennai and Puducherry, 12 cyclones have crossed the coast in the past 130 years from 1891 to 2021. "If this cyclone crosses the coast near Mamallapuram, it will be the 13th cyclone to cross the coast (between Chennai and Puducherry)." At the disaster management control room here, Chief Minister M K Stalin reviewed the preparedness by interacting with monitoring officers and officials in districts.

"Heavy rainfall is predicted by midnight," he told an official in Kancheepuram and tasked her to accordingly handle the situation. The Chief Minister later told reporters that all appropriate steps have been taken to tackle the situation and protect the people. Chief Secretary V Irai Anbu chaired a meeting of senior officials and reviewed the preparatory measures.