The Cyclonic storm ‘Mandous’ crossed the coast
between Pudcherry and Sriharikota near Mamallapuram and weakened
into a Deep Depression on Saturday.
“Cyclone Mandous rear sector has moved into land and the landfall process
has been completed. It is very likely to move nearly westnorthwestwards and
gradually weaken into a deep depression and into a depression by today noon”,
Met office said.
The cyclone entered the Chennai region around midnight and the entire crossing
process, which began at 2130 hrs last night, lasted nearly five hours, ended around
0230/0300 hrs this morning.
“Mandous” lay centered over north coastal Tamil Nadu moved northwestwards with
a speed of 15 kmph during past 06 hours and weakened into a Deep Depression
over north Tamil Nadu and lay centered at about 70 km northwest of Mamallapuram
(Mahabalipuram) and 50 km west of Chennai.
It is very likely to move nearly west-northwestwards and gradually weaken into a
Depression by noon.
Under its influence, light to moderate rainfall at most places with heavy to very
heavy rainfall at isolated places is likely over north Tamil Nadu today.
Heavy to very heavy rain is likely to occur at isolated places over Krishnagiri,
Dharmapuri, Tiruppattur, Vellore, Ranipet, Tiruvannamalai, Kancheepuram
and Tiruvallur districts of Tamil Nadu.
Heavy rain is likely to occur at isolated places over Nilgiris, Erode, Salem,
Kallakurichi, Villupuram, Chengalpattu and Chennai districts of Tamil Nadu
and Puducherry.
As heavy rains and strong winds lashed Chennai city and its adjoining
districts at the time off landfall, power supply was affected in several
areas in this teeming megapolis and in more than 300 places trees were
uprooted.
Meanwhile, a holiday has been declared for schools and colleges for the
second successive day in several districts in view of the cyclone.
