High tides cause panic

Chennai, Aug 3 (UNI) Unsually high tides and surging waves in Chennai coast and Kanyakumari in south Tamil Nadu created panic among the people today.

The met officials said the enhanced wave action and other sea phenomena were the latest indication about how local weather was going to be impacted by larger phenomena like global warming.

A large number of curious onlookers rushed to the sea shore, memories of the December 26, tsunami killer waves in 2004, rekindled.

The rushing seawater due to the huge waves, upto three metres, typically associated with the monsoon, forced fishermen to stay off the sea.

The boat service between Kanyakumari and Vivekananda statue was also suspended with the sea turning rough.

Warning the fishermen, met officials said strong offshore winds, mainly Westerly, with speeds betweeen 45 and 55 kmph, were likely along and off Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coasts.

In Chennai city, the sea water rushed close to the main road, throwing a scare into the passersby. For sometime the sea water advanced upto about 50 metres on the shore, causing panic among fisherfolk.

UNI