LIVE UPDATES:
3.30pm: Tamil Nadu Electricity Department (TANGEDCO) will be cutting power supply to eight districts of Cuddalore, Vizhuppuram, Nagapattinam, Pudukkottai, Tiruvarur, Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi, and Kanniyakumari, expected to receive heavy rainfall, a routine precautionary measure.
#CycloneGaja: TN Electricity Department will be cutting power supply in 8 districts with heavy rains/ winds. Dept says routine safety precaution. @thenewsminute
— Manasa Rao (@manasarao) November 15, 2018
#CycloneGaja: TN Electricity Department will be cutting power supply in 8 districts with heavy rains/ winds. Dept says routine safety precaution. @thenewsminute
— Manasa Rao (@manasarao) November 15, 2018
2.15pm: TN government appeals to private companies in coastal districts of Cuddalore, Nagapattinam, Thiruvarur, Thanjavur, Pudukkottai and Ramanathapuram to permit their employees to leave early so they can reach home safe by 4 pm.
An appeal from Govt of Tamil Nadu to Pvt Employers in Coastal Districts of #Cuddalore #Nagapattinam #Thiruvar #Thanjavur #Pudukkottai and #Ramanathapuram to permit their employees to leave early so that they can reach their homes safe before 4 pm ! RT pl #GajaCyclone
— TN SDMA (@tnsdma) November 15, 2018
12.30pm: Here is the list of relief centres in Cuddalore block, verified by TheNewsMinute:
#CycloneGaja List of relief centres in Cuddalore block. @thenewsminute pic.twitter.com/uR7DSBJIRu
— Megha Kaveri (@meghakaveri) November 15, 2018
The following trains have been cancelled:
Karaikal – Chennai Egmore Express (16176), Velankanni – Chennai Egmore Link Express (16186), Mannargudi – Chennai Egmore Mannai Express (16180), Thanjavur – Chennai Egmore Uzhavan Express (16866), Tiruchchirappalli – Thanjavur Special Fare Special (06866), Velankanni– Karaikal Passenger (76818), Karaikal – Thanjavur Passenger (76815), Villupuram – Mayiladuthurai – Villupuram Passenger (56877 / 56878), Villupuram – Mayiladuthurai – Villupuram Passenger (56873 / 56874) [Source: The Hindu]
11.30am: Cuddalore collector Thiru V. Anbuselvan and Disaster Management in-charge Gagandeep Singh Bedi to hold a review meeting to assess the situation. Cyclone Gaja to make landfall in the afternoon.
#TamilNadu: Collector Cuddalore Thiru. V. Anbuselvan and Disaster Managment Incharge Gagandeep Singh Bedi hold review meeting. #GajaCyclone is likely to make landfall between Pamban and Cuddalore today afternoon. pic.twitter.com/JabQiLepcq
— ANI (@ANI) November 15, 2018
10.20am: Cyclone Gaja is currently 370 km south east of Chennai, moving south west towards the Tamil Nadu coast. It will hit the coast with a wind speed of 80-90 kmph gusting to 100 kmph.
Cyclone Gaja Update – Landfall location is likely between Pondy/Cuddalore to Nagai/Vedharanayam as a very weak Cyclone
============================
The NW movement will stop anytime now and the SW dip will… https://t.co/Tglf9cPoWB— TamilNadu Weatherman (@praddy06) November 13, 2018
It is likely to make landfall between Pondycherry-Cuddalore to Nagapattinam. Chennai was the first to get rains and as day goes on and as the cyclone moves closer towards the coast. The interiors like Madurai, Trichy, Dindigul, Pudukottai, Sivaganga, Theni, Virudhunagar will all see rains only from Tomorrow morning after cyclone crosses the coast around Nagai-Vedaranyam belt around mid-night.
Various districts in Kerala have been put on Yellow and Orange alert in anticipation of any overlapping effects as the cyclone moves inwards.
Because of the Cyclonic Storm 'GAJA' over West central and adjoining East central & South Bay of Bengal, IMD has forecasted heavy to very heavy rainfall in isolated places of Kerala, 15th November onwards.
— Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (@KeralaSDMA) November 14, 2018
Here is a quick ex plainer of the situation so far: