The very severe cyclonic storm Thane over south west Bay of Bengal moved further westward and crossed North Tamil Nadu coast between Cuddalore and Puducherry between 0630 – 0730 hrs this morning.

It then continued to move westwards and weakened into a severe cyclonic storm and lay centered about 30 kms of Cuddalore and 35kms southwest of Puducherry. The system is likely to move westwards and weaken further.

The Met office in Chennai has forecast rainfall at most places with heavy falls at a few places over north coastal Tamil Nadu and Puducherry during the next 12 hours and over north interior Tamil Nadu during next 24 hours.

Sea condition is very high along and off North Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coasts.

Fishermen along North Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coasts have been advised not to venture into the sea in the next 12 hours.

AIR correspondent reports that Puducherry bore the brunt of the cyclone Thane as the gushing winds with speed over 125 kms per hour ripped apart the town.

Puducherry looks war torn with huge uprooted trees lying across roads in different parts of the town, bringing bus services and vehicular traffic to a standstill.

Power supply which was cut as a precautionary step is yet to be restored. Telecommunication links have been snapped. Initial reports from the coastal areas indicate large scale damages to huts, thatched houses.

The Emergency Operations Cell which has been activated has been inundated with distress calls. Rescue and relief teams have just begun to reach the affected areas as there slight let up in rains, which have been lashing for the last seven hours.