Cyclone Thane weakens one stage - IMD director

New Delhi: The Indian Meteorological Department said on Friday that the cyclone had weakened "one stage from very severe to severe". BP Yadav, Director, IMD, said, "The cyclone has weakened one stage from very severe to severe. The next 12 hours are very crucial. After that, it will weaken further. Heavy rainfall may continue in north Tamil Nadu, even in Kerala, however, the impact won't be severe.

"The region worst affected is north Tamil Nadu. An advisory has been issued to fishermen to go out to the sea. Inland people should avoid venturing out as the strong winds might uproot trees and disrupt power lines."

Meanwhile, heavy rains lashed Chennai on Friday morning as cyclone Thane hit coastal Tamil Nadu and made its way westwards. The sea level and the height of tidal waves reportedly rose up.

Cyclone Thane, packing wind speed of 140 kmph, made landfall on the coast between Cuddalore in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry on Friday morning, officials of the IMD said.

"The cyclone is in the process of crossing between Cuddalore and Puducherry coast. The wind speed is around 140 kmph at Puducherry and Cuddalore. Waves measuring 1.5 metres height are hitting the shoreline," an IMD official told IANS.

At 2 am, the cyclone moved closer to about 90 km east of Puducherry, 125 km south-southeast of Chennai, IMD said.

"The storm is more of wind centric and not much of rain. Puducherry recorded 14 cm rain, while Cuddalore 7 cm," the official said, adding the weather will remain gloomy.

Rainfall with heavy to very heavy falls was expected at a few places in north Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. The IMD has also predicted rainfall over south coastal Andhra Pradesh and Rayalseema.

In Puducherry, as a matter of precaution, power has been switched off since 11 pm Thursday night.

"We don't know what is happening in the outside world. All that we have been hearing since last night is the howling of the wind. Several trees have fallen down. Even mobile phone signals are not proper," S Ravikumar, a Puducherry resident, told IANS.

Cuddalore has witnessed heavy wind and rain since Thursday night. In some places tress have been uprooted disrupting power lines and traffic.

The sea has been rough and has inundated some residential areas along the East Coast Road connecting Chennai and Puducherry and people have been shifted to safer place.

Traffic on the East Coast Road has been disrupted due to uprooted trees.

The Tamil Nadu government has set up 20 teams to monitor the water levels in lakes and other water bodies in Chennai, Thiruvallur and other places.

Eight teams of the National Disaster Management Force have been sent to the coastal districts.

The railways has announced around two hour delay in the arrival of some trains to Chennai.

According to satellite imageries, the intensity of the system is T4.0. Sustained maximum surface wind speed is estimated to be about 75 knots around system centre.

The status of cyclone Thane at 5:30 am read, 'Very severe, intensity expected to lessen to deep depression by 5.30 pm'.

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