Cyclone Michaung nears coast, Tamil Nadu and Andhra on high alert as heavy rains loom
Michaung is expected to approach the waters near southern Andhra and northern Tamil Nadu by the morning of Dec. 4 and is expected to make landfall on Dec. 5 between Nellore and Machilipatnam.
With coastal areas of northern Tamil Nadu bracing for cyclone ‘Michaung’, the state government has set up 121 Multi-Purpose Security Centers, said Chief Minister MK Stalin.
The CM has also instructed district collectors to ensure that people from the rain-affected areas are lodged in the 6,927 camps that have been set up across the state.
Multi-Purpose Security Centers are control rooms which affected people can contact and from where rescue efforts can be coordinated.
“121 Multi-Purpose Security Centers have been set up. The District Collectors have been instructed to accommodate the general public who may have come from the affected areas in 6,927 camps,” said Stalin.
“14 teams of 350 personnel of Tamil Nadu Disaster Response Force and 9 teams of 255 personnel of National Disaster Response Force are ready for rescue and relief work in Mayiladuthurai, Nagapattinam, Thiruvallur, Cuddalore, Chengalpattu and Chennai districts,” he added.
Cyclonic storm Michaung, centred approximately 250 km southeast of Chennai as of 11:30 am on Sunday, is likely to move northwestwards and intensify into a severe cyclonic storm, said S Balakrishnan, deputy director general of meteorology, Regional Meteorological Centre.
“The deep depression over the southwest Bay of Bengal has intensified into a cyclonic storm ‘Michaung’ at 5.30 am on Sunday. It is likely to continue to move northwestwards, intensify further and reach the west-central Bay of Bengal off south Andhra Pradesh and adjoining north Tamil Nadu coasts by December 4 forenoon.”
“It would move nearly northwards almost parallel and close to the south Andhra Pradesh coast and cross the south Andhra Pradesh coast between Nellore and Machilipatnam during the forenoon of 5th December as a severe cyclonic storm with a maximum sustained wind speed of 90-100 kmph gusting to 110 kmph,” he added.
State Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy on Sunday directed Collectors of respective districts to take all possible measures to safeguard the lives and property of people as Michaung is likely to cross the coast in southern Andhra Pradesh.
Jagan held a review meeting on the cyclone threat at his camp office and gave directions to officials about the relief and rescue measures to be taken.
“All facilities including drinking water, food and necessary medicines should be provided in the relief camps,” he said in a press release.
Furthermore, the CM has directed officials to restore damaged powerlines and transportation facilities in affected areas, including ensuring proper sanitation at the relief camps.
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