Cyclone Nilam moves towards coast, rains lash Andhra Pradesh

Hyderabad: Rains and strong gales hit Nellore in Andhra Pradesh and other neighbouring districts of Tamil Nadu under the influence of cyclonic storm Nilam. The cyclone is expected to make a landfall on Wednesday evening between Cuddalore in Tamil Nadu and Nellore, bringing in heavy rains in the region with tide expected to reach levels of 1.5 meters.

The Andhra Pradesh Government has put administration of the coastal districts under alert to face the situation and made arrangements accordingly. Revenue Minister N Raghuveera Reddy on Tuesday said the impact in South-coastal Andhra was unlikely to be as severe as was being feared. He spoke to officials of various districts on Tuesday to ensure that the local administration was geared up to face the situation.

"The cyclonic storm, which lay about 320 km south-south east of chennai at 0530 hrs today, will move North-North westwards and cross North Tamil Nadu and adjoining south Andhra Pradesh between Cuddalore and Nellore near Chennai by October 31 evening," a weather bulletin by the Met department said.

The cyclone is expected to make a landfall on Wednesday evening between Cuddalore in Tamil Nadu and Nellore.

Storm surge of about one to 1.5 metres over the astronomical tide would occur, inundating low lying areas of Chennai, Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur and Nellore district of Andhra Pradesh, it said. Under the influence of the system, very heavy rainfall and extremely heavy rainfall (of 25 cm or more) is expected in the next 24 hours, it said.

"Rainfall at most places with isolated heavy to very heavy fall would occur over south coastal Andhra Pradesh, Rayalaseema and north Interior Tamil Nadu during the next 48 hours", it said. Squall winds with speeds of 55-65 kmph gusting to 75 kmph would prevail along north Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and coastal Andhra Pradesh. The wind speed would gradually increase thereafter to touch 80-90 kmph as the system moves closer to the coast at the time of landfall, it said.

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