NDRF members at Valiyathura in Thiruvananthapuram | Photo: ANI
Thiruvananthapuram: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued warning and red alert for South Kerala and south Tamil Nadu coasts in view of the Cyclone Burevi formed in the Bay of Bengal. The IMD and the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) informed this through their official Facebook pages.
The Cyclonic Storm ‘Burevi’ over north Sri Lanka moved west-north-westwards with a speed of 11 kmph during past six hours and lay centered on December 3 over north Sri Lanka and adjoining Gulf of Mannar near Lat. 9.1°N and Long. 80.2°E, about 30 km east-northeast of Mannar, 110 km east-southeast of Pamban (India) and 310 km east-northeast of Kanniyakumari (India). It is very likely to move west-northwestwards and emerge into Gulf of Mannar during next 3 hours.
The Cyclonic Storm with wind speed of 70-80 gusting to 90 kmph would be centered very close to Pamban around noon of December 3. It would then move nearly west-southwestwards across Pamban area by afternoon and cross south Tamil Nadu coast between Pamban and Kanniyakumari during December 3 night and December 4 early morning as a Cyclonic Storm with wind speed of 70-80 gusting to 90 kmph.
Alert for Kerala
According to the latest bulletin of IMD, Cyclone Burevi will decrease into a deep depression and reach Kerala by December 4. The public is advised to stay vigilant in this situation.
It has been informed that venturing into sea from Kerala coast is banned till further notice. The ban came into force from Monday midnight and is applicable for all types of fishing vessels.
Those who already ventured into the sea should move to the nearest safe coast immediately. Nobody will be allowed to go to sea until the KSDMA grants permission considering the movement of the cyclone. The IMD and the KSDMA are observing the movement of the cyclone.
Very heavy rain is likely in many places in Kerala from December 3 to 4. Extremely heavy rain is predicted in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta and Alappuzha districts on December 3. Gusty wind also is predicted. The KSDMA directed the government systems to take precautionary measures and urged the public to stay vigilant.