Chennai, Nov 12:
The Tamil Nadu Department of Fisheries and Fishermen Welfare has issued an urgent safety advisory directing all deep-sea fishing vessels and traditional country boats operating along the eastern coast to return to shore by midnight on Thursday, November 12, ahead of an impending weather system over the Bay of Bengal.
The directive follows a bulletin from the Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) indicating that under the influence of an upper air cyclonic circulation over the south Andaman Sea, a fresh low-pressure area is likely to form over the southeast Bay of Bengal on Friday, November 13, and move northwestwards to intensify into a well-marked low-pressure area by November 14 and a depression around November 15. Meteorologists warned of squally weather with wind speeds reaching 40 to 50 kmph, gusting up to 65 kmph, across the Andaman Sea and southeast Bay of Bengal over the coming days.
Authorities announced that fishing tokens will not be issued to trawlers or mechanized boats starting Friday until further notice. Boat owners and operators have been instructed to ensure all vessels are safely navigated back and securely berthed inside designated fishing harbours, while coastal communities and delta farmers have been urged to strictly adhere to official weather advisories.