Meanwhile, top government authorities said the situation is being monitored continuously.
Cyclonic storm Nada has further weakened into a depression as predicted and is currently making landfall between Nagapattinam and Vedaranyam in Tamil Nadu at 50 km wind speed, the MeT Department said on Friday.
"A large chunk of the depression has crossed coast early morning. However, over 25% of the system is yet to make the landfall which will happen soon," a MeT official said. He said mild to moderate rain coupled with squally winds were being witnessed in parts of Tamil Nadu.
ANI reports that upto four cm rain was received in Cuddalore, Nagapattinam and Puducherry. The MeT department says Chennai is to receive light showers. MeT forecasts moderate rainfall in North coastal Tamil Nadu
Cyclone Nada which weakened into a deep depression on Thursday moved Westnorth-Westwards and became a depression about 40 km East south East of Karaikkal (Puducherry Union Territory), the official said. "The cyclone passed off peacefully. (Landfall) through Karaikal (Pondy region) coast at 5 am. Wind velocity down," Puducherry Lieutenant Governor Kiran Bedi said.
ANI reported that the deep depression over southwest Bay of Bengal moved westwards with speed of about 10 kmph and crossed north Tamil Nadu coast near Nagapatti.
Cuddalore Collector Rajesh Kumar said, "We have identified, strengthened 41 cyclone relief shelters. NDRF teams have already arrived."
Area Cyclone Warning Centre Director, S Balachandran, had told reporters in Chennai on Thursday, "From a cyclonic storm, it has weakened into deep depression and in the next 24 hours is likely to cross the coast."
The deep depression crossed the coast between Cuddalore and Vedaranyam early Saturday morning.
The weakening of the cyclone brings partial relief to the authorities who have put the state machinery on high alert, deploying National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response teams, and taking elaborate precautionary measures to tackle any eventuality. Earlier, the MeT office had said the cyclone would cross the state coast near Cuddalore and under its impact, heavy rains could lash Tamil Nadu and neighbouring Puducherry. Some coastal areas are likely to receive heavy rains, the official said.
During and before the land fall of the depression, winds gusting upto 55 kmph are likely in coastal regions, he said.
Earlier on Thursday, Agricultural Production commissioner and Secretary, Gagandeep Singh Bedi, said in Cuddalore that all the 32 revenue districts, including 13 coastal districts were being monitored continuously. "The district administrations are fully prepared (to handle any eventuality)," he said.
State Revenue Minister RB Udaya Kumar said, "Be it heavy rains (which is expected) and gusty winds, all preparations are on (to tackle the situation)." He said during heavy winds power lines will be needing more attention and the Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation is fully prepared to tackle the situation.
Holidays had been declared in schools in various coastal districts of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry for Thursday and Friday in view of the cyclone threat.
The rains under influence of the depression have, however, brought cheers to the farmers hit by crop failure due to lack of water for irrigation. The current spell of rains marked revival of the north east monsoon which accounts for the major share of rains for the state, after it virtually remained inactive since its onset in October.
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