Cyclone Mandous nears Tamil Nadu coast; schools, colleges shut due to heavy rain forecast

New Delhi (India) : The India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicted that Cyclone Mandous, a severe cyclonic storm in the Bay of Bengal, would bring heavy rainfall to parts of Tamil Nadu on Friday. The weather forecast has led to the closure of schools and universities in approximately 27 districts. These areas include the cities of Chennai, Chengalpattu, Kanchipuram, Viluppuram, Cuddalore, Ranipet, Vellore, and Tiruvallur.

The IMD estimates that Cyclone Mandous (Man-Dous) is located about 240 kilometres east-southeast of Karaikal and about 320 kilometres south-southeast of Chennai. It will likely remain a severe cyclonic storm until around midday, when it will begin to weaken and become a cyclonic storm. With winds of 65-75 kmph (105 mph) gusting to 110 kmph, it will continue moving west-northwest and cross the coast between Puducherry and Sriharikota, near Mahabalipuram, between midnight and the early hours of Saturday (December 10). Chennai and other districts in Tamil Nadu can expect heavy to very heavy rainfall as a result of it over the next two days.

Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Andhra Pradesh have been bracing for the storm, with authorities on alert and taking precautionary measures. The National Disaster Relief Force has been deployed as well. In Chennai, 169 relief camps have been set up and the civic body has readied 805 motor pumps to drain stagnant water from low-lying areas.  Volunteers from the fisherfolk community have been instructed to be ready with rescue boats.