Three dead, four missing as car plunges into Ganga
Three people died and four others went missing after an Innova SUV they were travelling in plunged into River Ganga on Tuesday.
After wreaking havoc in neighbouring Sri Lanka, a weakened Cyclone Ditwah in the southern Bay of Bengal is expected to reach the shores of Tamil Nadu and South Andhra Pradesh on Sunday morning.
According to the Regional Meteorological Centre, Chennai, the cyclone has lost considerable strength and is moving at a very slow pace. It was centred 510 km south-southeast of Chennai and was moving north-northwest at a speed of 3 kmph.
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With the MET office forecasting heavy rain in the tail-end delta districts as well as in Cuddalore and Villupuram, Chief Minister MK Stalin has appealed to people in vulnerable areas to avoid unnecessary travel, stay indoors, and follow weather updates.
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Yesterday, he had directed district administrations to remain prepared for heavy rainfall by keeping temporary shelters ready for those evacuated from low-lying areas.
Despite the cyclone weakening, the state government remains on high alert. In the neighbouring Union Territory of Puducherry, two NDRF teams have been deployed for relief and rescue operations.
SDRF teams have been stationed in Nagapattinam and Cuddalore. Following the red alert issued for several districts, schools and colleges have been closed partially in anticipation of heavy rainfall.
In Chennai, water release from the Puzhal reservoir has been increased in view of the expected rainfall in the catchment areas.
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