Cyclone Nivar Update: Heavy Rain Lashes Tamil Nadu Coasts; Landfall Expected Tonight

Heavy rains were reported from several areas of coastal Tamil Nadu, According to the IMD the cyclone is likely to make landfall tonight.

New Delhi: Cyclone Nivar is expected to intensify into a very severe cyclonic storm with wind speeds that can reach  145 kmph. Heavy rains lashed Kanchipuram and the sea has turned choppy near Puducherry. According to the IMD 'the Severe Cyclonic Storm Nivar over southwest Bay of Bengal moved west-northwestwards with a speed of 6 kmph during past six hours and lay centred at 0230 hrs IST today over southwest Bay of Bengal.' The weather department also informed that the storm is very likely to cross Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coasts between Karaikal and Mamallapuram at night on Wednesday.

The Tamil Nadu government is also ensuring that a repeat of 2015 flooding does not happen this time and have increased their vigil on water levels in the reservoirs in Poondi, Cholavaram, Red Hills, and Chembarambakkam. The administration has also taken steps to release the water in phases.

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spoke to the CMs of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry and assured all possible support. Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu Edappadi K Palaniswami on Tuesday declared a public holiday in the state on November 25, due to the threat of Cyclone Nivar. The Indian Coast Guard and the Indian Navy have also geared up to provide humanitarian aid and disaster relief (HADR). A report by PTI says that the National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC), headed by Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba also took stock of the situation and reviewed the preparedness with the chief secretaries of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Puducherry.

Due to the dangerous weather situation, the Puducherry government on Tuesday imposed Section 144. The government has prohibited the presence or movement of one or more persons in public places in the entire Puducherry region and closure of all shops and establishments from 24-11-2020 9:00 pm to 26-11-2020 6:00 am.

After  'super cyclonic storm' Amphan, Cyclone Nivar is the second storm this year in the Bay of Bengal.