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When the cyclone hit the Tamil Nadu coast

Like the Meteorological Department predicted, the depression in the Bay of Bengal hit the Tamil Nadu coast at Cuddalore on Wednesday afternoon, uprooting several trees and disrupting normal life.

It was after two decades that a cyclone had hit the coast of Tamil Nadu. Road and rail traffic were put off gear. Bus services between Cuddalore and Madras were disrupted.

Winds moving at 90-110kms/hr swept across the coastal district of Cuddalore where signal number 8 had been hoisted to warn the people of the impending threat. The Met department had warned people to expect wind speeds of up to 150kms/hr.

After crossing the coast, the cyclone had weakened but the Met department has predicted heavy rains in the coastal regions, including Cuddalore and Madras, in the next 24 hours.

On Wednesday morning, residents of Madras woke up to see a bright and sunny sky though heavy rains had been predicted by the Met department. People were actually looking forward to the rains.

Even those living in the low-lying areas of the city were hoping that the cyclone would help them tide over the water shortage. However, it was not to be.

Last year, the north-east monsoon failed resulting in severe water shortage in Madras this year. The situation had not been any better this year either.

Vanaja lives in a low lying area of Madras. Every time the rains make an appearance, which is quite a rarity in Madras, her house gets inundated. Nevertheless, she was hoping it rained.

The reason: "I and my children are tired of chasing lorries supplying water. I have forgotten the days when I used to collect water from the tap outside my house."

EARLIER REPORT
Cyclonic storm likely to hit Tamil Nadu around noon

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