Tuesday, December 20 2005 16:47 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Chennai: The imminent threat of the deep depression crossing North Tamil Nadu and South Andhra Pradesh coasts receded as the system today (Dec 20, 2005) moved away from Cuddalore in a north-easterly direction, the weather office said.

The system lay 400 km east of Cuddalore in Tamil Nadu at 8.30 AM this morning, moving in a North-Easterly direction. It was likely to 'curve' towards the Bay of Bengal, Area Cyclone Warning Centre Director S R Ramanan, told reporters here.

"The prospect of the system crossing North coastal Tamil Nadu and South coastal Andhra Pradesh between Cuddalore and Nellore does not arise for the moment," he said.

"However, there was likely to be 'light to moderate' rains over the coastal districts of Tamil Nadu and at one or two places over interior parts of the state in the next 24 hours, beginning at 8.30 AM this morning," he said.

Yesterday the system was located 300-Kms east of Cuddalore and since it was moving in a north-westerly direction, the weather office had said it was likely to cross landfall between Cuddalore and Nellore tonight.

But the system's movement became sluggish and it changed course last night, moving away from Cuddalore.