Heavy Rains Likely In Tamil Nadu, Schools In Some Districts Closed

Schools in certain areas including in Tiruvallur and Uthukottai Taluks besides Kancheepuram district declared a holiday on Monday based on the IMD forecast

Chennai and several parts of Tamil Nadu received rain on Monday with the IMD forecasting more rainfall till December 15 owing to a cyclonic circulation and low-pressure area likely to form in the Bay of Bengal around December 13. Schools in certain areas including in Tiruvallur and Uthukottai Taluks besides Kancheepuram district declared a holiday on Monday based on the forecast.

Tree branches that fell when Cyclone Mandous crossed the coast at Mamallapuram, are being cleared by the civic authorities.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), under the influence of a cyclonic circulation over north interior Tamil Nadu and adjoining south interior Karnataka and north Kerala, a Low-Pressure Area is likely to form over the same region around December 13. It will move west-northwestwards away from the Indian coast thereafter.

Light to moderate rainfall at most places with heavy rainfall at isolated places is likely over Tamil Nadu today and over Kerala and Mahe and decrease in rainfall activity over the region thereafter, it said.

Squally weather with a wind velocity reaching 35-45 kmph gusting to 55 kmph is very likely over southeast and adjoining east central Arabian Sea and along and off the Kerala-Karnataka coast on Monday and Tuesday, the forecast said.

Fishermen have been advised not to venture into southeast and adjoining east central Arabian Sea and along and off the Kerala-Karnataka coast on December 12 and 13.

TN Fishermen Demand Compensation For Loss

The fishermen organisations of Tamil Nadu have requested the state government to provide immediate assistance for their fishing nets and vessels damaged during the recent Cyclone Mandous. According to fishermen groups and associations, fishing nets and vessels worth Rs 5 lakhs to Rs 25 lakhs were damaged in the recent cyclone and rains.

MD Dhayalan, President of the Indian Fishermen association, Kasimedu told IANS, "The fishermen did not venture into seas for the past seven days. The fishermen need the immediate assistance of Rs 15,000 per trawler at the earliest. We came to know that the government is conducting a survey on the damaged vessels and nets but we are asking for immediate assistance without which trawlers cannot venture out into the seas."

Around 180 to 200 tonnes of fish are caught at the Kasimedu fishing harbour alone and after the announcement of cyclone Mandous, the fishermen could not venture into the sea for the past week.

(With agencies inputs)