CHENNAI: Cyclone Gaja , which was situated 730km away from Chennai coast around noon on Monday and is expected to make landfall between Nagapattinam and Chennai on Thursday, is likely to bring light to moderate rain to north Tamil Nadu on Tuesday and will cause light to moderate rain or thunder showers at many places in the area on Wednesday.As the cyclone will cause wind of 35kmph to 50kmph, the India Meteorological Department has advised fishermen not to venture into the Andaman Sea in next 12 hours. The IMD also advised fishermen in deep sea to return to the coast by Tuesday.The warning also said fisherman should not venture out to central and adjoining southeast Bay of Bengal from November 11 to 13 and over southwest and adjoining west-central Bay of Bengal from November 12 onwards.The Tamil Nadu and Puducherry governments are taking all necessary measures to face the onslaught of the cyclone.State disaster management officials held a meeting to firm up steps to be taken to brace the cyclone.The Cuddalore district administration has formed a team of 26 members from the Coast Guard and home guards to take up cyclone relief and rehabilitation measures.Puducherry revenue minister M O H F Shahjahan on Monday told reporters that the government would seek the assistance of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) from Arakkonam in Tamil Nadu if necessary.He said the Puducherry state emergency operation centres functioning under the revenue and disaster management department had begun monitoring the movement of the cyclone.The government directed all the territorial officials to make all precautionary measures to face the onslaught of the cyclone. It directed the fishermen not to venture into the sea and insisted those fishing presently to return to the shore at the earliest. Ten Puducherry fishermen were yet to return to the shore. They would reach the shore soon, said Shahjahan.The Puducherry government set up a control room (toll-free 1070 or 1077) (0413 2253407 ) to enable the people to seek assistance in case of eventualities. People seeking assistance can reach the police department (100), fire and rescue services personnel (101), emergency services (108), electricity department (1912), transport department (1073) and coast guard (1554).Shahjahan said the government had adequate stock of diesel to drain water from inundated regions and essential provisions to prepare food for the displaced people in case of eventualities. “We will use the central kitchen if required,” he said.He said the government would initiate action against officials if they failed to respond to the emergency calls made by the people.

Stay updated with all the Chennai Latest News headlines here. For more exclusive & live news updates from all around India, stay connected with NYOOOZ.