Cyclone Nivar is forecast to move north and further weaken over the next few hours
Cyclone Nivar hurtled into the Puducherry coast late on Wednesday night, uprooting trees and packing strong winds and rains as tens of thousands of people took refuge in shelters. Nivar, which is moving towards northwest direction is excepted to turn into a normal cyclonic storm in the South Interior districts of Karnataka, India Meteorological Department (IMD), Bengaluru said on Thursday.
Cyclone Nivar made landfall at around 2.30 am with winds of up to 130 kilometres per hour.
Thousands of state and national emergency personnel were deployed in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Puducherry as authorities suspended power supply across several cities to prevent damage to the electricity grid.
Initially classified as a "very severe cyclonic storm" as it swirled in the Bay of Bengal, Nivar weakened after landfall into a "severe cyclonic storm", the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.
It is forecast to move north and further weaken over the next few hours, the weather bureau added.
The danger "is not over yet as some part of the cyclone is still over the sea though center is over the land," the IMD tweeted.
The fierce winds uprooted trees and toppled electricity pylons while downpours lashed parts of the region, causing flash floods.
The coastal states have been bracing for the cyclone - the fifth-strongest category on India's scale of seven storm types - and more than a lakh people were evacuated from low-lying areas. Nivar has forced authorities to declare a public holiday till Thursday, close the Chennai airport and metro services.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister E Palaniswami appealed to people to stay indoors as far as possible and said over 4,000 "vulnerable" locations had been identified and local officials have been told to ensure peoples' safety.
Here are the Live Updates of Cyclone Nivar:
Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy visits Uppalam area to assess damage by Cyclone Nivar
Cyclone Nivar LIVE Updates: As Cyclone Nivar weakens, fisherfolk hope to return to sea
As ''very severe'' cyclonic storm Nivar, which crossed the coasts of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry on Wednesday, weakened into ''severe'' cyclonic storm, the fisherfolk hope to return to their work soon even as the disaster has not affected the community much.
The very severe cyclonic storm Nivar, which originated in Southwest Bay of Bengal moved northwest direction and crossed Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coasts with a wind speed of 9 kmph from 11:30 pm on Wednesday night to 2:30 pm today, IMD informed.
"We are happy that cyclone did not affect us. A day ahead, we shifted all our boats and fishing net to a safe zone. Each boat costs Rs 2 lakh and a bundle of fishing net is for Rs 70,000. We are thankful to God that our property is safe now," Sakthi Vel, one of the fishermen from Puducherry''s Eraiyanur village, told ANI.
The sea still remains choppy and they cannot go fishing for the next few days.
Cyclone Nivar Live: Nivar weakened into ''cyclonic storm'' over north coastal Tamil Nadu
Severe cyclonic storm Nivar has weakened into a cyclonic storm over the north coastal Tamil Nadu, said the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Thursday.
The cyclonic storm will move northwestwards and weaken further into a deep depression during next six hours and into a depression by subsequent six hours.
"Severe Cyclonic Storm ''NIVAR'' weakened into a Cyclonic Storm over north coastal Tamil Nadu. The Cyclonic Storm ''NIVAR'' would continue to move northwestwards and weaken further into a deep depression during next six hours and into a depression by subsequent six hours," the IMD tweeted.
Cyclone Nivar LIVE: Bengaluru witnesses cloudy weather and light showers
Cyclone Nivar LIVE Updates: Amit Shah assures help to statesUnion Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday held a meeting with Chief Ministers of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry Edappadi Karuppa Palaniswami and V Narayanaswamy respectively and assured all possible help from the Centre in the wake of the cyclone.
"We are closely monitoring the situation in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry in the wake of Cyclone Nivar. Have spoken to CM Edappadi Karuppa Palaniswami and CM V Narayanaswamy and assured all possible help from the Centre. NDRF teams already on the ground to help people in need," Amit Shah tweeted.
Severe cyclonic storm Nivar weakened into a cyclonic storm over north coastal Tamil Nadu. It would continue to move northwestwards and weaken further into a deep depression during next 06 hours and into a depression by subsequent 06 hours, the India Meteorological Department said.
Cyclone Nivar LIVE: Three killed, 3 more injured in Tamil Nadu
At least three people have been killed while another three suffered injuries due to Cyclone Nivar in Tamil Nadu, Atulya Mishra, Additional Chief Secretary of the state said here on Thursday.
"It was a very serious cyclone. Due to measures taken by the state government, things are very much in control. As of now only 3 deaths have been reported while 3 people were injured. 101 huts damaged, and 380 fallen trees removed. There is a complete restoration of essential services. There is no problem of drinking water, electricity, or any healthcare," Mishra told ANI.
Cyclone Nivar LIVE Updates: Three dead in Tamil Nadu
BREAKING | Cyclone Nivar: 3 dead in Tamil Nadu as trees fall, wall collapses
Cyclone Nivar Latest News LIVE: Water logging in Chennai's Madipakkam
Cyclone Nivar to hit Karnataka, IMD issues yellow alert
The ''very severe'' cyclonic storm Nivar, which is moving towards northwest direction is excepted to turn into a normal cyclonic storm in the South Interior districts of Karnataka, India Meteorological Department (IMD), Bengaluru said here on Thursday.
Bangalore city and neighbourhood are expected to receive light to moderate spells of rain with intermittent heavy spells of rainfall at a few places during the next 48 hours, informed IMD.
Meanwhile, Bengaluru urban and rural parts, Kolar, Chikkaballapur, Tumakuru, Mandya, and Ramanagara districts of Karnataka are likely to witness moderate spells of rain on November 26. IMD has issued a yellow alert in these areas.
"These districts are very likely to experience isolated heavy rainfall on November 26 and November 27," CS Patil, Director, IMD Bengaluru stated.
Cyclone Nivar Weakens; Metro, Buses To Resume In Chennai: 10 FactsCyclone Nivar, which has weakened from a "very severe cyclonic storm" to a "severe cyclonic storm", made landfall near the costal town of Marakkanam in Tamil Nadu, 30 km north of Puducherry at around 2:30 am. More than two lakh people have been evacuated to safety in the coastal states that had been bracing for the cyclone - the fifth-strongest category on India's scale of seven storm types. While the damage assessment is on, the state governments say they have been working on "war-footing" amid heavy rainfall and flooding in many parts.
V Narayanasamy visits parts of Puducherry to assess damage by Cyclone Nivar
Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy on Thursday visited different areas of the Union Territory to assess the damage caused by Cyclone Nivar.
The Chief Minister informed that no loss of life has been reported in Puducherry in the wake of the cyclone and electricity will be restored within 12 hours.
"Heavy rainfall of 23 centimetres in 24 hours was observed. No report of loss of life. We have never een such torrential rains here. Electricity in the city will be restored within 12 hours," Narayanasamy told ANI.
Meanwhile, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel cleared the uprooted trees in the Kamaraj Nagar area to make way for the public.
Cyclone Nivar Latest News LIVE: Chennai Metro services to resume at 12 pm
Chennai Metro services to resume at 12 pm, was suspended last night ahead of Cyclone Nivar landfall
Chennai Metro services, suspended ahead of landfall of Cyclone Nivar, to be resumed at 12 pm
Cyclone Nivar Live: Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy visits different areas to assess damage
Cyclone Nivar LIVE Updates: Waterlogging in Chennai - PhotosTamil Nadu: Waterlogging in parts of Chennai city following overnight rainfall due to Cyclone Nivar
Cyclone Nivar LIVE Updates: Severe cyclonic storm Nivar expected to move NorthwestwardsSevere cyclonic storm Nivar expected to move Northwest wards & weaken into cyclonic storm in districts of South-interior Karnataka. Fishermen advised not to go to sea in South-coastal Andhra Pradesh & North-coastal Tamil Nadu. Chennai to have moderate rainfall till tomorrow: IMD
Cyclone Nivar Latest News LIVE: Rain Likely In Parts of Karnataka
Thunderstorm with lightning accompanied with light to moderate spells of rain likely in Bangalore Rural, Bangalore Urban, Tumkur, Chitradurga, Kolar, Chikballapura, Ramnagar districts in the next three hours: IMD Karnataka
Cyclone Nivar LIVE: Cyclone Nivar expected to weaken in next six hours
The severe Cyclonic Storm ''Nivar'' is likely to continue to move northwestwards and weaken further into a cyclonic storm in the next six hours, the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Goa informed on Tuesday.
The storm crossed the coasts of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry from 11:30 pm on Wednesday night to 2:30 on Thursday and moved west-northwestwards at a speed of 9 kmph in the last six hours.
"The very severe cyclonic storm Nivar over Southwest Bay of Bengal moved west-northwestwards with a speed of 9 kmph during past six hours and crossed Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coasts near Puducherry from 11:30 pm on Wednesday night to 2:30 am today as a very severe cyclonic storm with estimated wind speed of 120-130 kmph gusting to 145 kmph," the IMD said.
Cyclone Nivar LIVE Updates: Chennai witnessing spell of strong winds after Cyclone Nivar made landfall
Cars Parked On Chennai Flyover Ahead Of Cyclone To Avoid 2015 RepeatAs the very severe cyclonic storm Nivar inched closer to the coast, residents of one of the worst hit areas during the 2015 deluge in Chennai found a flyover the safer place to park their cars to avert their vehicles from getting submerged.
Determined to avoid a repeat of the 2015 scenario when scores of four-wheelers were filled with flood waters, several residents of Madipakkam in the southern part of the city left their vehicles on the margins of the bridge overlooking the Mass Rapid Transit System railway station in nearby Velacherry.
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Cyclone Nivar Makes Landfall; Heavy Rain In Chennai, Puducherry: 10 PointsCyclone Nivar made a late-night landfall near Puducherry. The tropical storm has weakened from a "very severe cyclonic storm" to a "severe cyclonic storm" with a wind speed of 100-110 km per hour, gusting up to 120 km per hour, the weather office said in a statement. The coastal states have been bracing for the cyclone - the fifth-strongest category on India's scale of seven storm types - and more than a lakh people were evacuated from low-lying areas. Nivar has brought with it heavy rain and strong winds and forced authorities to declare a public holiday till Thursday, close the Chennai airport and metro services.