The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on November 11 said that the cyclone storm named ‘Gaja’ is expected to hit the northern coast of Tamil Nadu between Karaikal and Cuddalore on November 14, bringing heavy rain accompanied by wind speeds up to 100 kmph.
“The deep depression over southeast and adjoining central Bay of Bengal moved west-northwestwards with a speed of 12 kmph during past 6 hours, intensified into a Cyclonic storm ‘Gaja’, and lay centered over east central and adjoining west central and southeast Bay of Bengal,” the IMD said.
IMD further said that storm is likely to intensify into a ‘severe cyclonic storm’ in the next 24 hrs and move west-northwestwards during next 36 hrs and west-southwestwards towards north Tamil Nadu and south Andhra Pradesh in the subsequent 48 hours.
According to the reports the Tamil Nadu fisheries department has urged the fishermen to avoid fishing in the south-east of the Bay of Bengal on November 12.
Fishermen in Andhra Pradesh reportedly warned against venturing into the sea for the next 24 hours.
