Cyclone to bring heavy rain across south India

A deep depression in the Arabian Sea, which turned into a severe cyclone, named Nilofar, is expected to bring heavy rain over southern Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, coastal Andhra Pradesh and over Telangana during the next 24 hour.

Weather officials here said that Nilofar under the influence of North-East Monsoon would intensify into a very severe cyclonic storm, the same kind as Hudhud, which devastated Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh recently.

“The deep depression over west central and adjoining south west Arabian sea intensify into cyclonic storm in next 12 hours. It will move towards north direction and is likely to hit northwest Gujarat coast in the next 48 hours,” a senior weather official here told Deccan Herald.

The official said that under the influence of this system, heavy rainfall would occur at various places in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Gujarat coast in the next 24 hours. 

The monsoon season also sees occurrence of cyclonic storms over Bay of Bengal, some of which are of very high intensity and have caused extensive destruction over coastal and inland regions. In 2013, four powerful cyclones Phailin, Helen, Lehar and Madi devastated Odhisa, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. 

Meanwhile, though there was some respite in the State capital, rain continue to pound entire southern Tamil Nadu, under the influence of North-East monsoon, which is active over the region during the last one week.

“Heavy rainfall would continue for another two days. As the sea conditions are still rough, fishermen from Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka were advised not to venture into the sea,” he said.

According to the latest weather bulletin, Valparai taluk in Coimbatore district recorded a maximum of 11 cm rainfall during the last 24 hours followed by Namakkal district, which registered ten centimeter rain during the same period.

Meanwhile, the death toll, due to rain related incidents, also rose to 25 with two girls drowned in a stream at Virudhunagar district. Three people were electrocuted at Cuddalore district, police sources said.