The India Meteorological Department has issued a red alert for areas in coastal Tamil Nadu as Cyclone Gaja, a deep depression in the Bay of Bengal, is set to make landfall on Thursday, November 15.

This includes Chennai, which may experience very heavy rainfall on Thursday and Friday as the cyclone makes landfall between Chennai and Nagapattinam.

Minister for Disaster Management R B Udhayakumar on Sunday said that 32 revenue districts under 13 districts in Tamil Nadu, located mainly along the coast, have been put on high alert to face the anticipated cyclone, Gaja.

Priority has been given to Chennai and Kancheepuram where the administrations have taken preventive measures, he added.

The cyclonic storm Gaja is currently about 740 km east ¬northeast of Chennai and is expected to make landfall on Thursday, November 15.