Depression over Bay of Bengal intensifies, cyclone warning issued at 9 Tamil Nadu, Puducherry ports

The warning signals have been hoisted at ports including Chennai, Nagapattinam, Cuddalore, Karaikal, Pamban and Thoothukudi, as authorities prepare for worsening weather conditions, reported news agency ANI.

Meanwhile, Puducherry and its neighbouring areas have been receiving continuous rainfall since Saturday night, with the northeast monsoon remaining active in the region.

As of 5.30 am on Sunday, October 25, the system was centred about 440 km north-northwest of Sri Vijaya Puram in the Andaman Islands and 880 km east-southeast of Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh.

It was also located approximately 980 km east-southeast of Kakinada, 1,080 km east of Machilipatnam and 1,150 km east of Bapatla.

The weather department said the depression is likely to initially move southwards and intensify into a deep depression before gradually turning west-northwestwards later on Sunday.

It is then expected to strengthen into a severe cyclonic storm by the morning of October 27 before intensifying further into a very severe cyclonic storm as it approaches the Andhra Pradesh coast.

The weather department further added that the system is likely to reach the westcentral Bay of Bengal near the Andhra Pradesh coast by the morning of October 28.

It is expected to cross the Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coasts between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam by the forenoon of October 28.

At the time of landfall, the cyclone is likely to bring maximum sustained winds of 115–125 kmph, gusting up to 140 kmph, the IMD said.

Heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely to continue across Puducherry, Karaikal and adjoining districts of Tamil Nadu, according to the weather forecast.

The downpour has led to waterlogging in several urban areas of Puducherry, including Coast Road, Krishna Nagar and Laspet Sarum, causing inconvenience to residents.