Cyclone Nivar, which will likely become a "very severe cyclonic storm", is expected to make landfall Wednesday evening between Mamallapuram in Tamil Nadu (which is around 56 km from state capital Chennai) and Karaikal in Puducherry.
Nivar will bring extremely heavy rainfall and winds between 120 and 130 km per hour, with gusts of up to 145 km per hour, the Regional Meteorological Centre in Chennai has advised, adding that coastal areas could receive heavy rains till Thursday. This morning Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted to assure the Tamil Nadu and Puducherry governments - both have said tomorrow is a public holiday - of all possible support.
Around 1,200 National Disaster Response Force personnel have been deployed in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and neighbouring Andhra Pradesh as well, NDRF chief SN Pradhan told PTI. 12 teams are in Tamil Nadu (six in Cuddalore district and two in Chennai), seven in Andhra Pradesh and three in Puducherry. An additional 20 teams will be on standby in Odisha's Cuttack, Vijaywada in Andhra Pradesh and Thrissur in Kerala.
Here are the highlights on Cyclone Nivar in Tamil Nadu:
#6ETravelAdvisory: #CycloneAlert: For flight status, please visit https://t.co/tOvkLoalM2. pic.twitter.com/xupLj9xViH
- IndiGo (@IndiGo6E) November 24, 2020
#CycloneNivar over southwest Bay of Bengal moved westwards about 320 km east-southeast of Cuddalore, about 350 km southeast of Puducherry & 410 km east southeast of Chennai. It is very likely to intensify further into a severe cyclonic storm during next 6 hours: IMD pic.twitter.com/qa5kifY9He
- ANI (@ANI) November 24, 2020
Tamil Nadu: Waterlogging in many areas of Chennai following rainfall. #CycloneNivar pic.twitter.com/VqPKQAWkOL
- ANI (@ANI) November 24, 2020
12 teams positioned in Tamil Nadu, 2 teams in Puducherry & 1 team in Karaikal. 3 teams positioned in Nellore & 1 team in Chittoor. 3 teams pre-positioned in Vizag. Total 22 teams available on the ground & 8 teams on standby. Total 30 teams committed: DG NDRF#CycloneNivar pic.twitter.com/8GP1e3dzXV
- ANI (@ANI) November 24, 2020
Tamil Nadu CM Edappadi K Palaniswami declares statewide public holiday tomorrow as #CycloneNivar is expected to cross Tamil Nadu-Puducherry coasts between Karaikal and Mamallapuram during late evening pic.twitter.com/EAmQcX49Rm
- ANI (@ANI) November 24, 2020
#WATCH: Visuals from Gandhi Beach in Puducherry as strong winds hit the region, sea turns rough. #NivarCyclone is very likely to cross Tamil Nadu & Puducherry coasts between Karaikal & Mamallapuram on the evening of 25th November, as per IMD. pic.twitter.com/hFXEBlpOXA
- ANI (@ANI) November 24, 2020
Puducherry: CM V Narayanasamy reviews preparations in coastal areas as UT braces for #CycloneNivar
- ANI (@ANI) November 24, 2020
"All departments are on high-alert & will work in close coordination for restoring electricity, water etc. We're working overtime to ensure that there's no loss of life," he said. pic.twitter.com/XVVGBx4Svr
Cyclonic storm 'NIVAR' over Bay of Bengal lay centred at 0830 hrs IST of 24th Nov, about 410 km east-se of Puducherry. To intensify further into a SCS during next 24 hrs. To cross Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coasts during 25th Nov evening as SCS with a wind speed of 100-110 kmph. pic.twitter.com/eBLegDgOXg
- India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) November 24, 2020
Puducherry: District Magistrate orders imposition of Section 144 from 9 pm tonight till 6 am, 26th Nov in entire Puducherry region, in wake of #CycloneNivar.
- ANI (@ANI) November 24, 2020
All shops & establishments will remain closed. Only milk stations, petrol stations & pharmacies are allowed to operate. pic.twitter.com/LdoR4Mxstj
Tamil Nadu: Rain lashes parts of Chennai. #NivarCyclone is very likely to cross Tamil Nadu & Puducherry coasts between Karaikal & Mamallapuram on evening of 25th November, as per IMD. pic.twitter.com/BNi9IfGGFD
- ANI (@ANI) November 24, 2020
#WATCH Tamil Nadu: Coastal parts of Chennai on alert ahead of Cyclone Nivar. According to IMD, #NivarCyclone is very likely to cross Tamil Nadu & Puducherry coasts between Karaikal & Mamallapuram on 25th Nov evening.
- ANI (@ANI) November 24, 2020
Visuals from the coastal town of Marakkanam. pic.twitter.com/i5y87npjbF
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.
- Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 24, 2020
#WATCH Tamil Nadu: Coastal parts of Chennai on alert ahead of Cyclone Nivar. According to IMD, #NivarCyclone is very likely to cross Tamil Nadu & Puducherry coasts between Karaikal & Mamallapuram on 25th Nov evening.
- ANI (@ANI) November 24, 2020
Visuals from the coastal town of Marakkanam. pic.twitter.com/i5y87npjbF
(1) Deep Depression intensified into a Cyclonic Strom ―NIVAR‖ over southwest Bay of Bengal-(Cyclone Alert for Tamilnadu and Puducherry coasts- Yellow Message)
- India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) November 24, 2020
(2) Deep Depression weakened into a Depression over Gulf of Aden and adjoining Somaliahttps://t.co/QSfsJn8fMK pic.twitter.com/ydXZlvYmBz
#CycloneNivar Update3
- ѕαtчα prαdhαnसत्य नारायण प्रधान ସତ୍ଯପ୍ରଧାନ-DG NDRF (@satyaprad1) November 23, 2020
23/11/20
🟠@NDRFHQ work started
🟠Recce of various locations
🟠At Cuddalore, TN@ndmaindia @PMOIndia @HMOIndia @BhallaAjay26 @PIBHomeAffairs @ANI @pibchennai @pibvijayawada pic.twitter.com/rDrSC5a6N9
