Cyclone storm Nivar made a landfall near Puducherry in the wee hours of Thursday. The tropical storm is gusting up to 120 km per hour and has now weakened to ‘severe cyclone storm’ from ‘very severe cyclone storm’.
Due to the heavy rain and strong winds that the cyclone has brought with it, more than a lakh people have been evacuated from low-lying areas.
“Over 1.45 lakh people have been shifted to 1,516 relief camps across the state as a precaution,” RB Udhayakumar, Tamil Nadu’s disaster management minister, told news agency Reuters.
The authorities have declared a public holiday with Chennai airport and metro services suspended due to the severity of storm.
The official Twitter handle of AAI Chennai Airport said “The closure of Chennai airport due to cyclone Nivar stands extended till 9.00 hrs of 26.11.2020, on assessing the prevailing climatic conditions and taking passenger safety as top priority. The inconvenience caused is deeply regretted.”
Meanwhile, government officials in Chennai had to release water from a major reservoir as the rapid rise in water levels continued due to heavy rains. The officials are anticipating major flooding in four more reservoirs in Tamil Nadu.
As of now, the NDRF team has reached Mudichur, which is one of the worst affected areas in the southern suburbs in Chennai, to carry out rescue operations.
Around 1,200 National Disaster Response Force personnel have been stationed in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and neighbouring Andhra Pradesh as well, an official told PTI.
The Indian Navy is also closely monitoring the movement of Nivar with naval ships, aircraft and rescue diving teams on standby. The force is also in constant touch with both Tamil Nadu and Puducherry governments.
Earlier on Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had tweeted, “Spoke to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Shri Edappadi K Palaniswami and Puducherry Chief Minister Shri V Narayanasamy 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.”
Besides Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, the cyclone has also affected Andhra Pradesh. Due to the extremely heavy rainfall o 300 mm, the Kaivalya river in Nellore district have been over flooding, affecting the lives of more than hundred people.
Tirupati and Kavali are some of the other affected areas by the cyclone storm in the state.
According to the latest update from India Meteorological Department, Nivar is expected to weaken further to ‘cyclone storm’ n few hours, much to the relief of local residents.
