Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Oct 21: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a Red alert for eight districts in Tamil Nadu and an Orange alert for ten others, including Chennai, after a weather system over the Bay of Bengal intensified into a deep depression early Tuesday morning. The system, which formed around 5:30 a.m. over the southwest Bay of Bengal, is expected to strengthen further over the next 24 hours and move west-northwest toward the coasts of northern Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and southern Andhra Pradesh.
Heavy rain, gusty winds, and rough sea conditions are expected to batter coastal regions over the next two days, prompting authorities to step up emergency preparedness.
Districts under the Red alert, where very heavy to extremely heavy rainfall is likely, include Villupuram, Cuddalore, Mayiladuthurai, Nagapattinam, Thiruvarur, Thanjavur, Pudukottai, Ramanathapuram, and Karaikal (Union Territory of Puducherry). Meanwhile, an Orange alert (indicating heavy to very heavy rainfall) is in effect for Chennai, Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur, Chengalpattu, Kallakurichi, Perambalur, Ariyalur, Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli, and Kanniyakumari.
IMD has warned fishermen against venturing into the sea, with wind speeds expected to reach 45–55 km/h, gusting up to 65 km/h, along the Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coastlines. The system is expected to evolve further into a well-marked low-pressure area by Wednesday afternoon before making landfall between Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.
Local authorities have been placed on high alert, with disaster response teams mobilised in vulnerable districts. Relief camps are being readied, and the Tamil Nadu State Disaster Management Authority (TNSDMA) has intensified monitoring and coordination efforts to reduce potential disruption. Residents in low-lying and coastal areas have been advised to remain indoors, avoid unnecessary travel, and follow official updates as the system progresses.
As the weather system continues to gain strength, authorities are bracing for potential flooding, infrastructure strain, and power outages across the alert zones.