The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for south Tamil Nadu and south Kerala for December 3 as Cyclone Burevi is all set to hit the southern states.
After making landfall in Sri Lanka, close to Trincomalee, on Wednesday midnight, the cyclonic storm is very likely to emerge into Gulf of Mannar and adjoining Comorin area -around Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu on December 3 morning, the IMD said in a bulletin.
It would then move nearly west-southwestwards and cross south Tamil Nadu coast between Kanyakumari and Pamban in the wee hours of December 4, it said.
Heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely at a few places and extremely heavy showers at isolated places in both Tamil Nadu and Kerala on December 3.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday spoke to chief ministers of both Tamil Nadu and Kerala and discussed the prevailing situation. Modi also pledged all possible support from the Centre.
“Had a telephone conversation with Tamil Nadu CM Thiru Edappadi K. Palaniswami Ji. We discussed the conditions prevailing in parts of the state due to Cyclone Burevi. Centre will provide all possible support to TN. I pray for the well-being and safety of those living in the areas affected,” the prime minister tweeted.
Had a telephone conversation with Tamil Nadu CM Thiru @EPSTamilNadu Ji. We discussed the conditions prevailing in parts of the state due to Cyclone Burevi. Centre will provide all possible support to TN. I pray for the well-being and safety of those living in the areas affected.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 2, 2020
He also tweeted about his telephonic conversation with Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and said he had assured all possible support from the Centre to help the state.
“Spoke to Kerala CM Shri Pinarayi Vijayan Ji on the conditions prevailing due to Cyclonic Storm Burevi in the state. Assured all possible support from the Centre to help Kerala. Praying for the safety and well-being of those staying in the affected areas,” Modi said.
Spoke to Kerala CM Shri @vijayanpinarayi Ji on the conditions prevailing due to Cyclonic Storm Burevi in the state. Assured all possible support from the Centre to help Kerala. Praying for the safety and well-being of those staying in the affected areas.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 2, 2020
Palaniswami said all precautionary measures are in place in Tamil Nadu to minimise the possible damage that could be caused by the weather system and urged people to stay indoors. The state is bracing for the second cyclone in a week after Cyclone Nivar battered the coastal areas on November 26.
The chief minister appealed to people, particularly those in the southern districts, not to step out unnecessarily between December 1 and 4.
Palaniswami, who chaired a high-level meeting to assess the cyclone's impending impact, called upon the public not to panic over the new cyclonic storm as all precautionary measures have been taken on war-footing.
Kerala has opened over 2000 relief camps and taking other steps including banning fishing along the coast till December 5. Currently 690 members of 175 families have been already shifted to 13 camps.
Vijayan said the IMD has predicted that Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Alappuzha, Idukki and Ernakulam districts will receive heavy rains and wind from December 3 to 5.
"Eight teams of the NDRF have reached the state. The facilities of the Airforce have been arranged at Sulur Airforce base in Coimbatore," he said.
Vijayan asked the people not to worry and said thestate government has made all arrangements to face the situation.
With inputs from PTI
