Cyclone Nilam reaches near Tamil Nadu coast, Kalpakkam Nuke plant goes on alert

CHENNAI: With cyclone ' Nilam' intensifying into a severe storm, Madras Atomic Power Station at coastal Kalpakkam today said the situation was being "closely watched" and asserted the plant is designed to withstand a wind velocity of 160 kmph.

Presently, both the reactors at MAPS were operating "safely", its Director K Ramamurthy said in a statement as 'Nilam' cyclone was expected to cross Tamil Nadu-Andhra Coast close to Chennai this evening.

The Met office has forecast gusty winds with a maximum surface wind speed of 45 kmph to 110 kmph.

"Kalpakkam being a coastal site (about 55 km from Chennai), all the structures and equipment were designed to withstand even the wind velocity of 160 km per hour," he said.

Ramamurthy said all agencies have been instructed to be on standby alert. Additional personnel have been deployed to keep vigil on "important systems" and "the situation is being watched closely for any developments and to take immediate appropriate action," he said.