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:
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.
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.
Karnataka: Bengaluru witnesses cloudy weather and light showers.
- ANI (@ANI) November 26, 2020
The India Meteorological Department has predicted generally cloudy sky with moderate rain in the city. #CycloneNivar pic.twitter.com/STxqYKMsj5
Union 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.
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.
BREAKING | Cyclone Nivar: 3 dead in Tamil Nadu as trees fall, wall collapses
Tamil Nadu: Water logging in Chennai's Madipakkam area after rainfall last night.#CycloneNivar pic.twitter.com/WyetIH5Z8U
- ANI (@ANI) November 26, 2020
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.
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.
Chennai Metro services to resume at 12 pm, was suspended last night ahead of Cyclone Nivar landfall
Puducherry: CM V Narayanasamy visits different areas to assess damage by #CycloneNivar
- ANI (@ANI) November 26, 2020
"Heavy rainfall of 23 cm in 24 hours was observed. No report of loss of life. We've never seen such torrential rains here. Electricity in the city will be restored in 12 hours," he says pic.twitter.com/JCWDno6LkC
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
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.
#WATCH Chennai witnessing spell of strong winds after #Cyclone Nivar made landfall near Puducherry late last night#TamilNadu pic.twitter.com/jZZB3FCJUX
- ANI (@ANI) November 26, 2020
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.
