Cyclone Fengal: Schools, colleges shut in seven Tamil Nadu districts as deep depression over Bay of Bengal intensifies

Authorities in Tamil Nadu have declared a holiday for schools and colleges in seven districts, including Chennai, Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur, Chengalpattu, Mayiladuthurai, Cuddalore, Nagapattinam, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, and Villupuram, as coastal areas of the state brace for Cyclone Fengal.

CREDIT: BCCL

Cyclone Fengal

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), a deep depression over the Bay of Bengal is likely to develop into a cyclonic storm, Cyclone Fengal, on 27 November. The depression was located approximately 770 km south-southeast of Chennai and 570 km south-southeast of Nagapattinam. According to weather officials, the deep depression is moving closer to the state and is just one step away from being declared a cyclone.

CREDIT: IMD

Path of?Cyclone Fengal

"It is very likely to continue to move north-northwestwards and intensify further into a cyclonic storm on 27th November. Thereafter, it will continue to move north-northwestwards towards the Tamil Nadu coast, skirting the Sri Lanka coast during the subsequent two days," the IMD said on social media.

Heavy rains in Chennai

Earlier, the IMD--Regional Meteorological Centre had predicted heavy to very heavy rainfall across Tamil Nadu for the next three days due to this deep depression.?

A red alert has already been issued for several districts on 28 and 29 November.

CREDIT: BCCL

How was?Cyclone Fengal named

Once the deep depression intensifies into a cyclonic storm, it will be called Cyclone Fengal. The name Fengal was suggested by Saudi Arabia, one of the member countries of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the United Nations Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP). Member countries of WMO and UNESCAP name cyclones in the region sequentially.

CREDIT: ZOOM EARTH

Meaning of?Cyclone Fengal

According to the WMO, the name 'Fengal' is rooted in Arabic and reflects a combination of linguistic tradition and cultural identity. Fengal is also said to reflect the cultural diversity and linguistic richness of the region.

For more news and current affairs?from around the world, please visit?Indiatimes News.