Cyclone Nivar, centred about 130 south of Chennai, has intensified into a severe cyclonic storm, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) said in its bulletin on Wednesday. “It is very likely to intensify further into a very severe cyclonic storm during the next 12 hours,” the IMD added.
The cyclone hit the coast between Puducherry and Marakkanam in Tamil Nadu late in the Wednesday night, bringing with it heavy rain and strong winds.
In view of Cyclone Nivar, the Tamil Nadu government on Wednesday said the state-wide public holiday will continue till 26 November in 13 districts of the state. The Chennai airport and metro services have also been closed. As many as 26 flights from and to Chennai have been cancelled in view of Cyclone Nivar, the Chennai Airport said.
“Due to Cyclone Nivar, the statewide public holiday to continue till November 26 in 13 districts of Tamil Nadu including Chennai, Chengalpattu, Kanchipuram, Villupuram, Vellore, Thiruvannamalai, Cuddalore, Thanjavur, Thiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Mayiladuthurai, Ariyalur, and Perambalur,” said Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami.
Heavy rainfall might occur at few places over Vellore, Ranipet, Tiruvallur, Tirupattur, Krishnagiri, Tiruchirapalli, Salem and Dharmapuri districts of Tamil Nadu, the Met department said. It also predicted scattered heavy to very heavy rain at isolated places over Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Cuddalore, Chennai, Kanchipuram, Chengalpattu, Myladuthirai, Ariyalur, Perambalur, Kallakurchi, Villupuram and Tiruvannamalai District of Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal.
A total of five trains have been partially cancelled, including two for Wednesday, three for Thursday, and one for 28 November, Southern
On Cyclone Nivar impact, Dr Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, DG of IMD said, “Cyclone Nivar gradually intensifying. It could cause structural damage, uprooting of trees, damage to thatched or tin houses, and damage to banana and paddy crops. There’ll be strong winds and heavy rain. The most impact will be in Puducherry and Karaikal.”
The Southern Command of Indian Army said that the jawans are ready to assist the government and civil administration in both Tamil Nadu and Puducherry ahead of Cyclone Nivar’s landfall. As many as 12 humanitarian assistance and disaster relief teams and two engineer task forces are ready for deployment, according to reports. Such is the expected intensity of the cyclone that seven gates out of the 19 of Chembarambakkam Lake in Chennai have been opened. For the first time in around five years, the gates of the reservoir have been opened, sources said.
WITH AGENCY INPUTS
