The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has put out a cyclone alert for Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.

With the depression over south-west Bay of Bengal expected to move up further along the eastern coastline, the cyclone is expected to move north-northeastwards and intensify into a deep depression and further into a cyclonic storm over the next 48 hours.

According to the IMD, wind speed reaching 55-65 km per hour gusting to 75 km per hour would prevail along and off north Tamil Nadu and Puducherry during the next 24 hours and south Andhra Pradesh coast during next 48 hours.

Fishermen are advised not to venture into the sea as sea condition will be very rough during the next 48 hours.

Meanwhile the Tamil Nadu government has deputed senior officers to areas that may experience heavy rainfall to oversee precautionary measures.

Government had also said Chennai and neighbouring districts are expected to receive very heavy rainfall of more than 25 cm and Cuddalore, Villupuram, Thanjavur and Nagapattinam districts, more than 12 cms rainfall.

In Chennai, sewage lines have started overflowing in many areas due to the intermittent rains putting the residents into difficulty.

On Tuesday, May 17, Chennai airport recorded 11.5 cms of rainfall while Nungambakkam station recorded 12.7cms of rainfall. Storage levels in the city reservoirs have seen a slight rise as Poondy recorded 902 mcft on Tuesday. Levels at Cholavaram, Red Hills and Chembarambakkam were recorded at 84 mcft, 1671 mcft and 2374mcft respectively.