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Strong winds will continue for another six hours and by Thursday morning everything will calm down: India Meteorological Department official.
Continuous rains in #Bangalore Getting heavier by the hour #Nilam
- BG Mahesh (@bgmahesh) October 31, 2012
#nilam Driving around Chennai roads, I notice the eeriness and darkness all around.Really unusual.Fallen trees & dirty roads but no people
- Srini Swaminathan (@srini091) October 31, 2012
The Hindu tweets:
#Nilam crosses TN coast, intermittent rain likely to continue: Met dept.
- The Hindu (@the_hindu) October 31, 2012
Cyclone Nilam hits Tamil Nadu, thousands evacuated- 10 developments
Sixteen people, who managed to escape the grounded oil tanker Pratibha Cauvery, are currently being treated at a hospital.
Sixteen people, who managed to escape the grounded oil tanker Pratibha Cauvery, are currently being treated at a hospital.
Rescue operations to find missing crew members suspended due to bad weather
A Coast Guard ship with divers had reached the location for search and rescue operations. The Navy may also use an aircraft early in the morning.
A Coast Guard ship with divers had reached the location for search and rescue operations. The Navy may also use an aircraft early in the morning.
One crew member dead after the lifeboat capsized in choppy waters off the Besant Nagar locality in South Chennai. Six are feared missing.
Pratibha Cauvery, an oil tanker, has been grounded by Nilam in Chennai. 37 people on board. Some tried to reach the shore in a life boat.
@vipinkumar_g tweeted this photo:
Nilam effect @ Rajarathnam Stadium Egmore @ndtv #Nilam #chennai twitter.com/vipinkumar_g/s...
- Vinu Vipin (@vipinkumar_g) October 31, 2012
Our correspondent Sam Daniel reports that authorities have moved 3888 people from Mahaballiburam and housed then in 19 relief centres.
As the cyclone made landfall, windspeed went up to about 100 km per hour. Puducherry and south Chennai have been affected.
Cyclonic storm Nilam crossed Chennai and made landfall at Mahabalipuram, south of the Tamil Nadu capital at about 4.20 pm today. Initial reports say 23 trees have been uprooted in Mahabaliburam as the Nilam made landfall. Two huts have also been reportedly damaged.
CYCLONE NILAM MAKES LANDFALL SOUTH OF CHENNAI
Cyclone Nilam is crossing the coast via south Chennai. The centre of the cyclone will, however, take another hour to cross the coast.
Meanwhile, authorities have said that schools and colleges will remain shut tomorrow in coastal areas of Tamil Nadu.
NDTV's Sam Daniel reports from Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa has ordered evacuation of people from low-lying areas. She has asked authorities to shift these people to relief centres. The Chief Minister has also ordered officials to ensure adequate stock of food, water, milk and essential supplies for these people.
Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi tweeted:
Praying for everyone's safety in the regions predicted to be affected by Cyclone Nilam. Hope there is no loss to life & property.
- Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 31, 2012
Nilam impact: Massive tree falls on Nungambakkam High Road in Chennai. Our correspondent Sam Daniel sends this picture:
Wind speed at the time of landfall is expected be 100 km per hour and there could be some disruption in communication lines in Chennai, say officials.
At 1 pm, the cyclone was about 260 km away from Chennai, which could be directly hit.
Cyclone Nilam is now likely to make landfall along a 350-km stretch of coast between Pondicherry in Tamil Nadu and Nellore in Andhra Pradesh at 6 this evening, according to the latest bulletin from the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD).
In pics: Bracing for cyclone NilamAs Nilam approaches, there are reports of heavy rains and traffic chaos in many southern cities. Here are some of the pictures tweeted by our surfers.
The latest weather department bulletin says that Cyclone Nilam is expected to make landfall between Puducherry and Chennai. It is expected to hit the shores between 4-6 pm. The cyclone is currently around 250 km away, and is moving towards Chennai, the MeT department says.
A weather bulletin said that standing crops like paddy, groundnut and maize are likely to be damaged in coastal districts of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.
Bangalore city saw heavy rainfall since morning and the MeT department has attributed the sudden dip in temperature in Bangalore and several parts of Karnataka to Cyclone Nilam. The rain has made the situation worse for commuters as the already strewn over garbage in the streets of city spreads further.
Some surfers are also tweeting about rain and traffic chaos in Bangalore because of Cyclone Nilam. Twitpic courtesy @dillogical_rahi:
@ndtv heavy rain with traffic !!! #bangalore twitter.com/dillogical_rah...
- dilnawaz rahi (@dillogical_rahi) October 31, 2012
Twitpic courtesy @Hiteshum:
@ndtv in bangalore we now feel that rainy season has arrived... thanks to #nilam but hope it doesnt destruct twitter.com/Hiteshum/statu...
- Hitesh (@Hiteshum) October 31, 2012
@anand471 tweets:
cyclone #Nilam yet didn't make chennai standstill. Traffic flows a bit slow but not paralysed...
- Anand V (@anand471) October 31, 2012
Meteorological Department revises landfall time for Cyclone Nilam, now says it will hit shores at around 5:30 pm.
New Indian Express tweets:
Cyclone Nilam to cross Tamil Nadu, Andhra: bit.ly/WZKq7r#CycloneNilam#TamilNadu #Andhra
- New Indian Express (@NewIndianXpress) October 31, 2012
Moderate rain is being reported in Cuddalore, Tamil Nadu.
Chennai windy but sunny at 9 am. Many say it is a good sign. Here's a picture from NDTV's Sam Daniel:
South India braces for Cyclone Nilam, landfall expected todayTamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh are bracing for a cyclone. Deep depression in the Bay of Bengal has intensified into a cyclone, which is expected to cross between Nagapattinam in Tamil Nadu and Nellore in Andhra Pradesh.
Speaking to NDTV's Sam Daniel, Dr D Karthikeyan, Commissioner, Chennai Corporation said that the city is fully prepared. "We have catamarans and boats in low lying areas. 2-5 lakh residents are in vulnerable areas but the situation does not require evacuation now." He also said that Chennaiites can call 1913 for help or assistance. Dr Karthikeyan also urged people to be indoors if possible.
A sixth warning signal has been issued in Krishnapatnam and Nizampatnam ports in Andhra Pradesh, reports our correspondent Uma Sudhir.
NDTV's Uma Sudhir reports: In Andhra Pradesh, the Coast Guard is rescuing nine fishermen reportedly trapped in boat about 15 km off west Godavari coast.
Cyclone warning halts port operations in ChennaiThe Chennai port on the southeast coast has stopped cargo operations after a cyclone warning, a port official said.
Sea condition is expected to be rough along north Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and adjoining south Andhra Pradesh coasts during the next 48 hours. Fishermen in these areas have been advised not to venture into the sea.
There's been no major evacuation so far. However, in Chennai, 282 schools would serve as relief centres to accommodate those moving later in the day. Officials say cyclone shelters are kept ready in Nagapattinam and Cuddalore districts.
Holiday has been declared for schools in 9 districts including Chennai, Cuddalore and Kancheepuram. Schools and colleges are shut in Puducherry as well.
Officials have warned of inundation due to storm surge in low-lying areas including Chennai, Kancheepuram and Thiruvallur districts.
Chennai woke up to a cloudy weather today; intermittent heavy showers are expected in the city.
Presently, Nilam is positioned at around 340 km from Southeast of Chennai. It is likely to move in a north westerly direction and cross between Cuddalore and Nellore near Chennai by evening.
