Cyclone Thane, packing wind speed of 140 kmph, made landfall on the coast between Cuddalore in Tamil and Puducherry Friday morning, officials of the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) here said. “The cyclone is in the process of crossing between Cuddalore and Puducherry coast. The wind speed is around 140 kmph at Puducherry and Cuddalore. Waves measuring 1.5 metres height are hitting the shoreline,” an IMD official told IANS. At 2 a.m. the cyclone moved closer to about 90 km east of Puducherry, 125 km south-southeast of Chennai, IMD said. “The storm is more of wind centric and not much of rain. Puducherry recorded 14 cm rain, while Cuddalore 7 cm.,” the official said, adding the weather will remain gloomy. According to a bulletin issued by the IMD at 7.00 a.m. on Friday, “the very severe cyclonic storm ‘Thane’ over southwest Bay of Bengal moved further westward and lay at centered at 0530 hrs IST of today, near latitude 11.80N and longitude 79.90E, very close to southeast of Puducherry. The system is likely to move westwards and cross north Tamil Nadu coast close to south of Puducherry within a few hours and weaken gradually. Under the influence of this system, rainfall at most places with heavy to very heavy falls at a few places and isolated extremely heavy falls (25cm or more) would occur over north Tamil Nadu & Puducherry during next 24 hours. Rainfall at most places with isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall would also occur over south coastal Andhra Pradesh and Rayalseema the same period. Rainfall at many places with isolated heavy rainfall would occur over south Tamil Nadu, north Kerala and south Karnataka during next 24 hours. Gale winds speed reaching 120-130 kmph gusting to 145 kmph is likely along and off north Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coasts during next 3 hours and then decrease gradually. Storm surge of about 1.0-1.5 meter height above the astronomical tide would inundate the low lying areas of Puducherry and Chennai, Tiruvallur, Kanchipuram & Villupuram districts of north Tamil Nadu at the time of landfall. Sea condition is phenomenal along and off north Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and adjoining south Andhra Pradesh coasts. Fishermen along north Tamil Nadu, Puducherry & south Andhra Pradesh coasts are advised not to venture into sea during next 24 hrs. The Tamil Nadu government has set up 20 teams to monitor the water levels in lakes and other water bodies in Chennai, Thiruvallur and other places. Eight teams of the National Disaster Management Force have been sent to the coastal districts. The railways has announced around two hour delay in the arrival of some trains to Chennai Egmore station. Fishermen along northern Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and south Andhra Pradesh coasts were advised not to venture into the sea till Saturday afternoon. Tamil Nadu ports were in a state of high alert with Chennai and Ennore ports asking the ships to move out to safe distance. The public works department of the Tamil Nadu government has advised people living in low lying areas close to Red Hills, Chembarambakkam and Poondi reservoirs to move to safer places as surplus water will be released depending on the rain intensity. Post landfall outlook from IMD: Even after landfall the system is likely to maintain its intensity for 12 hours and weaken gradually. Under its influence rainfall at most places with heavy to very heavy falls at a few places and isolated extremely heavy fall is likely to continue over north Tamil Nadu and Pudducherry during next 24 hours after landfall causing inundation of low lying areas. Gale/squally wind speed reaching 80-90 kmph gusting to 100 kmph causing damage to thatched roofs and huts breaking of tree branches causing minor damage to power and communication lines over north Tamil Nadu and Pudducherry during 12 hours after the landfall. People are advised to remain indoor/safe place and cooperate with state Govt. officials and disaster management agencies.