When the world was busy following Cyclone Sandy on the USeast coast, another storm, Nilam, hit India’s east coast on Wednesday, severelyaffecting life in coastal Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. Though it sparedChennai, it made a landfall near Mahabalipuram, about 55 km from the statecapital.
The cyclone crosses the coast south of Chennai at 4 p.m.Wednesday, the Area Cyclone Warning Centre said in a bulletin.
About 4,000 people living near the coast in Mahabalipuram, afamous tourist spot known for its temples and sculptures, were evacuated tosafer places, officials said.
People in the affected areas were advised to remain indoorswhile state government employees were asked to leave for their homes early.
A holiday was announced for educational institutions incoastal districts for Thursday.
Chennai experienced strong winds, though the intensity ofrain was less, and power supply was disconnected in many parts of the city as aprecautionary measure.
In Puducherry, a 46-year-old man slipped into the rough seaand drowned when he along with his friends was walking on the pier to see thesea conditions during the cyclonic storm.
Southern Railway announced diversion and partialcancellation of trains, especially those passing through coastal districts.Trains were also being operated at low speed to ensure safety.
In Chennai, about 100 trees were uprooted by the gustywinds. Traffic movement was slow as motorists, including those drivingfour-wheelers, faced difficulty due to strong winds.
An oil tanker with a 37-member crew ran aground off thecity’s coast under the impact of high velocity winds before the landfall ofcyclone Nilam, leaving one person dead.
The crew member drowned after a life boat carrying him and21 colleagues capsized in choppy waters off Besant Nagar locality in southChennai in high velocity winds just hours before the cyclone hit the coast. Hewas brought dead to a hospital while 15 others were rescued.
At least four crew members were reported missing, while atleast 15 were on board the ship. The Pratibha Cauvery, along with several shipsberthed at the Chennai Port, was asked on Wednesday to go to the OuterAnchorage of the port as a precautionary measure before the severe cyclonicstorm arrived.
However, the ship, anchored about 3.56 nautical miles awayfrom the port on Wednesday, drifted and ran aground near Elliot’s Beach. “Theship was carrying 37 people on board,” a source said. The tanker had two tonnesof light diesel and furnace oil onboard when the mishap occurred.
