Giant waves feared to strike Tamil Nadu coast

CHENNAI: Weather experts have warned that giant waves measuring up to 3.5 metres (11.5 feet) and a storm surge are expected to strike Ramanathpuram and Kanyakumari coasts on Saturday and Sunday.

The waves will reach much longer distances on the coast and are likely to submerge the shores, an oficial said, asking the population to stay extremely well alerted.

The south Indian state has never faced such a weather scare. An advisory was issued by Tamil Nadu Disaster Management and Mitigation Department along with Tamil Nadu State Disaster Management Agency (TNSDMA).

Authorities of both the districts and oficials have been put on high alert.

Tamil Nadu Disaster Management and Mitigation Department Principal Secretary K. Satyagopal told the media: “Met ofice has predicted strong winds mainly from Southerly-southwesterly direction with speed occasionally reaching 35-45 kmph along and off Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coasts. Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) has also issued a rough sea warning for south Tamil Nadu coast.”

“Giant waves measuring between 2.5 and 3.5 metres (8.25 and 11.5 feet) along with storm surge is expected to strike the southern coasts of Tamil Nadu especially, in Ramanathapuram and Kanyakumari coasts from 8:30am on April 21. It could continue on till 11:30pm of April 22.

This will happen due to certain environmental changes in the region.

The giant waves will strike intermittently with a time interval of 18 to 22 seconds,” he added.

“The waves will reach much longer distances on the coast and are likely to submerge the shores,” he said. “Residents need to take note of all information given by our department from now onwards. They are requested to remove all their belongings from beaches in these areas.

As these waves will last for two days, they are also likely to lood the coastal villages. So, those residing close to shore need to be careful.”

The state was under the memory of the 2005 tsunami which took several lives and destroyed extensively.

Chennai is sizzling at 32 degrees on Friday and had been waiting for rain, but the new warning has scared the people, especially along the coastline.

Skymet weather forecaster predicts that scattered rains may continue over Kerala and South Karnataka.