Cyclone Nivar Update: Coast Guards On Standby As Landfall Likely On Wednesday, Public Holiday In Tamil Nadu

Cyclone Nivar is expected to cross Tamil Nadu-Puducherry coasts between Karaikal and Mamallapuram on November 25.

Vehicles ply on a waterlogged road during heavy rain triggered by Cyclone Nivar, in Chennai. (Image: PTI)

Chennai: Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu Edappadi K Palaniswami on Tuesday declared a public holiday in the state on November 25, citing the threat posed by Cyclone Nivar which is expected to cross Tamil Nadu-Puducherry coasts between Karaikal and Mamallapuram.  As per the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the Depression over Southwest Bay of Bengal is likely to intensify into a Cyclonic Storm over the next 24 hours. States of Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Andhra Pradesh are in preparation to brace up for the cyclone “Nivar” which is expected to hit the states by the afternoon of November 25. In view of the upcoming cyclone, the Indian Coast Guard and the Indian Navy are geared up to provide humanitarian aid and disaster relief (HADR).

1) Cyclone "NIVAR" to cross Tamilnadu-Puducherry coasts between Karaikal and Mamallapuram as a very severe cyclonic storm during late evening of 25th November. 2)Depression over Gulf of Aden and adjoining Somalia weakened into a well marked low pressure area. pic.twitter.com/ZWzqjnbDUB

— India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) November 24, 2020

In addition, Four Coast Guard Offshore patrol vessels have been deployed at sea in disaster relief configuration for assistance to fishermen and merchants at sea, besides two helicopters on standby for immediate launch post-landfall rescue and relief efforts. Three Dornier aircraft are also on standby at Vishakapatnam for surveillance and damage assessment. National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) headed by Rajeev Gauba with an aim of zero life loss, issued directions to all the concerned departments and authorities. The official statement said the authorities should be prepared to restore normalcy as soon as possible in the affected areas. Meanwhile, concerned with the upcoming storm PM Modi spoke to the CMs of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry and assured all possible support. “Spoke to Tamil Nadu CM Shri @EPSTamilNadu and Puducherry CM Shri @VNarayanasami regarding the situation in the wake of Cyclone Nivar. Assured all possible support from the Centre. I pray for the safety and well-being of those living in the affected areas,” PM Modi’s tweet quoted. Taking the preventive measures, while the state of Tamil Nadu has declared a public holiday on Wednesday, Puducherry administration has imposed Section 144 to restrict the movement of the public across the region and has ordered shops and establishments shut from 9 pm Tuesday to 6 am Thursday, but milk booths, fuel stations, pharmacies, etc will remain open. Meanwhile, the counseling for MBBS and BDS courses in Tamil Nadu has been postponed and the Southern Railways has canceled 11 pairs of trains in view of the situation.