Cyclone Neelam has made a landfall finally at Mahabalipuram in Tamil Nadu after 5.30 pm on Wednesday.  Gusty winds were blowing at a speed of 80 kilometres per hour when the cyclone was hitting the coast, said meteorological department officials. While Tamil Nadu Government declared a public holiday to all schools and colleges on Thursday in the wake of cyclone, the Andhra Pradesh Government has so far didn't make any official statement on functioning of educational institutions. The officials have said that Neelam cyclone effect would be more in Nellore district of Andhra Pradesh. It may be noted that Nellore is a coastal area, which is close by to Tamil Nadu.

Meanwhile, the government in Tamil Nadu made elaborate arrangements to ensure that the effect of the cyclone is minimal. As a part of the same generators were also deployed at many places in Chennai in order to drain the water and put a check to water logging. Such an act would ensure that there would be no loss-in terms of lives and property, said the observers.  The latest reports, nonetheless, said that Chennai is out of danger.

(AW Phani)