Cyclone set to hit TN; PM cancels visit

Cyclone set to hit TN; PM cancels visit
December 9, 2005

New Delhi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has deferred a visit he had planned on Saturday of the flood-affected areas in Tamil Nadu in view of a cyclone warning.

The prime minister's media advisor Sanjaya Baru said that Singh had expressed a desire to visit the flood-affected parts of Tamil Nadu on Saturday, but due to the cyclone warning, he has been advised not to undertake the journey.

In Chennai, precautionary measures are under way and the coastal areas of Tamil Nadu are gearing up with the warning Cyclone Fanoos is likely to cross between Nagapattinam and Chennai by noon tomorrow.

Fanoos, located just 300-km east southeast of Nagapattinam, is likely to intensify and move in west northwesterly direction and cross the north Tamil Nadu coast between Nagapattinam and Chennai tomorrow around noon, Area Cyclone Warning Centre director S R Ramanan, told reporters here.

Under the influence of the system, the cyclone and widespread rains with isolated heavy downpour was likely to commence along Tamil Nadu and south Andhra Pradesh coast from morning, they said.

Strong winds with speeds between 60 and 70 kmph were likely during this period.

As the system comes closer, the condition of the sea would be "rough to high" and fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea, they added.

In view of the impending threat, the PM has also been advised that local authorities might be busy in dealing with the relief work and that he should postpone his visit to the state.

"The prime minister, therefore, decided that he will visit the state after his return from Kuala Lumpur", Baru added.

Read the full article at : Cyclone set to hit TN; PM cancels visit