Tropical Cyclone Thane crosses near Cuddalore / Pondicherry

It rained incessantly and it has been windy – Chennai has escaped – Cuddalore, Pondy bore the brunt of  very severe cyclonic storm, "Thane'.  Burma, officially the Republic of Myanmar bordered by China, Laos, Thailand, Bangladesh and India has its hand in the havoc. ##

Cyclones are named in advance.  Arising out of their long-term persistence, the need for a unique identifier was felt and hence started the convention of naming cyclones.  The tropical cyclones within the basin of North Indian Ocean are named from the list selected by members of listed countries.   Tropical cyclones are named to provide easy communication between forecasters and the general public regarding forecasts, watches, and warnings.

A tropical cyclone is a rotational low pressure system in tropics.  The word cyclone is derived from Greek word ‘cyclos’ which means ‘coiling of a snake’. The word cyclone was coined by Heary Piddington who worked as a Rapporteur in Kolkata during British rule. The terms "hurricane" and "typhoon" are region specific names for a strong "tropical cyclone". Tropical cyclones are called “Hurricanes” over the Atlantic Ocean and “Typhoons” over the Pacific Ocean. The "eye" is a roughly circular area of comparatively light winds and fair weather found at the centre of a severe tropical cyclone.

Track of Cyclone Thane – www. Rediff.com

From the official version of IMD, the very severe cyclonic storm, "Thane', on Friday crossed the Tamil Nadu coast, leaving six persons dead and causing extensive damage to Cuddalore and the neighbouring Union Territory of Puduchery which remained cut-off from the nearby districts of the state.   IMD Bulletin No. BOB 05/2011/34  issued at 0930 hrs on 30.12.2011 reads

***  The very severe cyclonic storm 'THANE' over southwest Bay of Bengal moved further westward and crossed north Tamil Nadu coast between Cuddalore and Puducherry between 0630 and 0730 hrs IST of today. It then continued to move westwards and weakened into a severe cyclonic storm and lay centered at 0830 hrs IST of today, the 30th December 2011 near latitude 11.80N and longitude 79.50E about 30 Km west of Cuddalore and 35 Km southwest of Puducherry. The system is likely to move westwards and weaken further. ***

Train services from southern Tamil Nadu were hit as many of them ran late or were stopped in the nearby station while many flights to international destinations were cancelled.

Hundreds of trees were reported uprooted and fallen disrupting traffic on the highways and damaging nearby property.  Deaths arising out of falling walls, trees and electrocution have also been reported. Many people have been evacuated from the coastal areas and have been moved to three shelters in safer areas.

Satellite image of  Cyclone Thane @0730 30.12.11  – IMD Chennai

At Pondy, the damage is extensive and the cyclone is reported to be  an unprecendented disaster. The entire police and other departments are now clearning theroads for traffic movement," the Collector said. 

Power supply was suspended around 10.30 p.m. on Thursday. About 200 trees besides electric polses were uprooted in the town of Puducherry and adjoining residential areas cutting off vehicular traffic. On all streets trees have been uprooted, sources said. The damage is more on the  Puducherry-Cuddalore Road and the East Coast Road , which connects the town to Chennai.  The town experienced heavy winds from around 11 p.m. Thursday which intensified around 3 am and continued till 8 a.m. on Friday. There was not much rain till around 11 a.m. on Friday.   Puducherry  also remains  cut off from the neighbouring districts of Villupuram and Cuddalore in Tamil Nadu as several trees fell on the roads due to the impact of gale winds, official sources said.

Behind such news is always the agony of poor and many who are rendered homeless and devastated by loss of property and sometimes lives.  The Govt, common public and Social Service Organisations should provide shelter, food, clothes and aid to those affected.

##  The name to the present cyclone ‘Thane’ was given by  Burma.  In the list, Bangladesh gave – Onil, Ogni, Nisha; India gave Agni, Akash, Bijli, Jal;  Hibaru, Gonu, Aile were given by Maldives; Pyarr, Phyan, Thane were given by Myanmar; Oman gave Baaz, Sidr, Ward, Murjan………

With regards – S. Sampathkumar