IMD ISSUES RED WARNING FOR SEVEN TAMIL NADU DISTRICTS AS GAJA SET TO HIT ON NOV 15

With heavy to very heavy rain predicted in some Tamil Nadu districts when Cyclone Gaja makes landfall on Thursday, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a “red warning” recommending that local authorities should take action and move coastal dwellers to safe places. According to the warning, Cuddalore, Nagapattinam, Tiruvarur, Thanjavur, Pudukottai, Tuticorin and Ramanathapuram districts are likely to receive “extremely heavy rainfall” (in excess of 20 cm) on November 15.

A statement by the minisitry of earth sciences, under which the IMD works, has clarified that a “red warning” has been issued, not a “red alert”.

A red warning, which recommends to state governments that all possible action should be taken to keep people safe, is different from a “red alert” that is issued by a state government to warn the local people about impending weather conditions.

“The red warning for some districts means that local authorities should take action for extremely heavy rain.

The severe cyclonic storm will weaken before landfall. But when the storm is severe, ships and fishermen in the deep sea are likely to be impacted,” said M Mohapatra, IMD’s meteorology director.

The IMD had issued a red warning for several Kerala districts on August 9, following which the state witnessed flooding unprecedented in at least 80 years. HTC