New Delhi: 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:
Nov 26, 2020 15:08 (IST)
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.
Nov 26, 2020 14:27 (IST)
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.
Nov 26, 2020 13:37 (IST)
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.
Nov 26, 2020 13:36 (IST)
Cyclone Nivar LIVE Updates: Three dead in Tamil Nadu
BREAKING | Cyclone Nivar: 3 dead in Tamil Nadu as trees fall, wall collapses
Nov 26, 2020 13:18 (IST)
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.
Nov 26, 2020 11:54 (IST)
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.
Nov 26, 2020 11:53 (IST)
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
Nov 26, 2020 11:22 (IST)
Chennai Metro services, suspended ahead of landfall of Cyclone Nivar, to be resumed at 12 pm
Nov 26, 2020 09:57 (IST)
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
Nov 26, 2020 09:11 (IST)
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.