CHENNAI/PUDUCHERRY: Chennai and coastal areas of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry are expected to get rain from Wednesday evening as cyclone Gaja is edging closer to the coast at a speed of 12kmph. It is expected to make landfall between Pamban and Cuddalore on Thursday afternoon.The cyclone was situated 660km east northeast of Chennai coast and 760km east northeast of Nagapattinam coast.The cyclone moved westwards at a speed of 12kmph in last six hours on Tuesday, said a bulletin released by the India Meteorological Department on Tuesday evening.It is expected to move southwest in an arc to make landfall in the southern coast. It is likely to bring heavy rain in seven districts, including northern districts, on Thursday and Friday.The IMD has issued storm surge warning and wind warning to coastal areas. "Storm surge of height of about 1.0 meter above astronomical tide is very likely to inundate low lying areas of Nagappattinam, Thanjavur, Pudukkottai and Ramanathapuram districts of Tamil Nadu and Karaikal district of Puducherry at the time of landfall," said the IMD.It also says that "Damage is expected in Cuddalore, Nagappattinam, Tiruvarur, Thanjavur, Pudukkottai and Ramanathapuram districts of Tamil Nadu and Karaikal district of Puducherry."Fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea.Squally wind speed reaching 45-55 kmph gusting to 65 kmph are very likely to commence along and off north Tamil Nadu and Puducherry and adjoining south Andhra Pradesh coasts from the morning of November 14."It is very likely to increase gradually becoming gale wind speed 80-90 kmph gusting to 100 kmph from the morning of November 15."As Gaja is expected to maintain high intensity for 24 hours after turning into a severe cyclone and make landfall on Thursday, the IMD on Tuesday forecast that rain would commence on Wednesday evening over TN coast and to intensify on Thursday.Extremely heavy rain lesser or greater than 20 cm has been forecast in Cuddalore, Nagappattinam, Tiruvarur, Thanjavur, Pudukkottai, Tuticorin and Ramanathapuram districts on Thursday. The warning has been issued in red hinting that the government should take action.Revenue and disaster management minister R B Udayakumar said the Tamil Nadu government was fully prepared to undertake relief and rehabilitation measures. The state identified 4,339 vulnerable areas, including 2,559 in coastal districts and special attention was being given. "The inter-departmental teams and first responders, with the assistance from disaster response groups are geared up," the minister told reporters.The minister said the hospitals had been instructed to stock adequate oxygen cylinders and medicines and keep the generators at an elevated level in case of power disruption during cyclone. Adequate earth movers, power saws, boats, pump sets, tens of swimmers and snake catchers, mobile and static medical teams were arranged."Electricity board and municipal administration are prepared to take up relief measures with adequate infrastructure," Udayakumar said.NDRF teams arrive in PuducherryTwo teams of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have reached Puducherry to assist the government machinery in facing the onslaught of cyclone Gaja.Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, chief minister V Narayanasamy said one team would be deputed to Karaikal as the impact of the cyclone would be more in Karaikal as per the IMD forecast.The chief minister said he would reach Karaikal tonight and hold meeting with the officials on Wednesday to review the preparedness of the administration to face the onslaught of the cyclone.

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