Chennai, Nov 23 (UNI) The depression over southwest and

adjoining southeast Bay of Bengal will intensify into a severe

cyclonic storm 'Nivar' and would cross the Tamil Nadu and

Puducherry coasts on Wednesday, bringing in extremely

heavy rainfall in the State.

A bulletin isued by the Met office on Monday said the

depression over southwest and adjoining southeast Bay

of Bengal moved northwestwards with a speed of 25 kmph

during the past six hours and lay centred over the same

region about 550 km east-southeast of Puducherry and

590 km southeast of Chennai.

It is very likely to intensify into a cyclonic storm during the

next 24 hours, move northwestwards and cross the Tamil

Nadu and Puducherry coasts between Karaikal and

Mamallapuram, about 55 km from here, on November 25

afternoon as a severe cyclonic storm with a wind speed of

100-110 kmph and gusting to 120 kmph.

Explaining the steps taken by the government to tackle

the situation, Revenue Minister R B Udhayakumar said

six teams of the National Disaster Response Force

(NDRF) from Arakkonam have been deployed in the

coastal areas of Cuddalore and Chidambaram for

pre-positioning.

Fishermen were advised not to venture into the sea till

Wednesday and move to safer places. Steps were also

being taken to evacuate people living in low lying areas

and house them in government relief camps.

Special officers were appointed in 36 revenue districts

to monitor the precautionary measures and all the district

collectors were asked to be alert to meet any exigency.

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