Cyclone Nivar could hit hard and make landfall near Puducherry which, along with Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, is on high alert.
There has already been one death attributed to the cyclone. A 25-year-old, who was chopping a drumstick tree in Pudukottai as a precaution ahead of the arrival of the cyclone, lost his life when the branches fell on a power line.
The NDRF has earmarked 30 teams to launch rescue and relief operations.
Fearing the winds to be worse than Vardah in 2016, the IMD had already a sounded red alert in Ariyalur, Mayiladuthurai, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Cuddalore, Villupuram, Tiruvannamalai, Kallakurichi and Perambalur. While an orange alert is issued in north coastal districts like Chennai, Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur, Chengalpet and interior districts like Vellore, Dharmapuri, Tirupattur and Krishnagiri.
Many trains and flights have been cancelled.
Kalpakkam's Madras Atomic Power Station has activated its Cyclone protection Machinery too.
Sea condition is high over Southwest Bay of Bengal and rough to very rough along & off Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, south Andhra Pradesh coasts. Total suspension of fishing operations advised.
Sea condition is high over Southwest Bay of Bengal and rough to very rough along & off Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, south Andhra Pradesh coasts
— PIB in Tamil Nadu ???????? (@pibchennai) November 24, 2020
????Total suspension of fishing operations advised#CycloneNivar
Details: https://t.co/9BJSgoTRce
Cyclonic Strom #NIVAR over SW Bay of Bengal
— PIB in Tamil Nadu (@pibchennai) November 24, 2020
(Cyclone Warning for Tamilnadu & Puducherry coasts- Orange Message)
Likely to intensify further into a severe cyclonic storm during next 6 hrs & into a very severe cyclonic storm during subsequent 12 hrs
1/2https://t.co/9BJSgoTRce
#Madras High Court declares holiday tomorrow due to #CycloneNivar #CycloneAlert ?@xpresstn? pic.twitter.com/VgP0MtcKO7
— Harish Murali (@harismurali) November 24, 2020
Officials are concerned that a ship grounded near Karaikal by Cyclone Gaja in 2018 will be damaged by Cyclone Nivar. (READ MORE)
Holiday declared on Nov 25 pic.twitter.com/pBevDLSBFH
— Debjani Dutta (@Debjani_TNIE) November 24, 2020
With Cyclone Nivar is expected to make landfall by Wednesday evening, the IMD has issued a heavy and very heavy rainfall alert for Tiruchy district. (READ MORE)
#UPDATE on cancellations due to adverse weather conditions. Passengers are requested to contact concerned airline for any further update.
— Chennai (MAA) Airport (@aaichnairport) November 24, 2020
Arrivals@IndiGo6E 542 (2115 hrs)
Sector : COK - MAA@IndiGo6E 7151(2325hrs)
Sector: TRZ -MAA
While the Karaikal administration has taken all precautionary measures to tackle the fury of Cyclone Nivar, there is concern about maintaining social distancing inside relief shelters. (READ MORE)
Government buses will be operated in 31 districts barring Pudukottai, Nagapattinam, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Cuddalore, Villupuram and Chengalpattu on Wednesday.
— B Anbuselvan (@anbuselvan_tnie) November 24, 2020
MTC will operate 50 % of scheduled services. @xpresstn pic.twitter.com/xp4THtMwxR
Around 250 fishers in 29 fishing boats from Nagapattinam and Karaikal have been advised to wait at the emergency halting points at harbours away from their home till the weather clears. (READ MORE)
IndiGo has cancelled 5 flights scheduled for Wednesday, to and from #Tiruchy International airport in lieu of the #cyclone #Nihar
— Aadhithya (@AadhithyaMS) November 24, 2020
Namely, Chennai-Tiruchy-Dubai and two each of Chennai-Tiruchy-Chennai and Bengaluru-Tiruchy-Bengaluru flights. @NewIndianXpress @ezhil_jkm
Nungambakkam till morning 8.30 am is 78 mm and now 100 mm after 8.30 am. Tomorrow morning Nungambakkam from 100 mm might cross 200 mm: Tamil Nadu Weatherman Pradeep John
This will be a very good spell for Chennai and KTC region.
— Pradeep John (Tamil Nadu Weatherman) (@praddy06) November 24, 2020
Compiling up a special post, please bear with me for few hours. pic.twitter.com/ZbrYsof5Lp
As Chennai receive heavy rainfall ahead of #CycloneNivar landfall on the coast of Tamilanadu, manholes on footpaths started overflowing, resulting flooding of Poonamallee Hihg Road#chennairains #CycloneAlert @NewIndianXpress @xpresstn @shibasahu2012 @haisat2005 pic.twitter.com/pXTWZ5q4Ac
— D Mallick (@dmallick_NIE) November 24, 2020
The slow moving cyclonic storm Nivar in the warm waters of the Bay of Bengal is turning into a monster. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) on Tuesday announced that Nivar will intensify into a very severe cyclonic storm while making landfall late on November 25 evening with wind speeds of 120-130 kmph gusting to 145 kmph. (READ MORE)
The Tamil Nadu government is pulling out all stops to ensure no repeat of the 2015 floods in the city, as they mounted a vigil on four reservoirs,anticipating a rapid rise in water levels in view of heavy rains forecast due to cyclone Nivar,likely to cross the state coast on Wednesday.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday urged people to follow safety measures as cyclone Nivar was expected to intensify and hit the Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coasts on November 25. He also urged people to stay indoors and asked Congress workers to provide assistance wherever needed.
25 year old man electrocuted in #Pudukkottai when he was chopping the branches of a Drumstrick tree near his house. He was doing this as a precaution for #CycloneNivar . One of the branches fell on a power line. @xpresstn @NewIndianXpress #NivarCyclone #Nivar
— Sowmya Mani (@sowmyamani10) November 24, 2020
Attn Passengers: Kindly take note of the cancellation of @IndiGo6E 7215 ( @2035hrs) on MAA -TRZ sector due to adverse weather conditions. Passengers are requested to check with the concerned airline for update.
— Chennai (MAA) Airport (@aaichnairport) November 24, 2020
Six special trains of the Thiruvananthapuram division of the Southern Railways, have been cancelled on November 25 in view of the IMD forecast of cyclonic storm Nivar making landfall over Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coasts. Trains which have been cancelled are: Train No. 02634 KanyakumariChennai Egmore Daily Superfast Express Special; Train No 02633 Chennai EgmoreKanyakumari Daily Superfast Express Special;Train No06724 KollamChennai Egmore Daily (Ananthapuri) Express Special;Train No 06723 Chennai EgmoreKollam Daily (Ananthapuri) Express Special;Train No. 06102 KollamChennai Egmore Express Special via Sengottai, Madurai Jn andTrain No 06101 Chennai Egmore Kollam Express Special via Madurai Jn, Sengottai.
Chennai suburban train services will remain suspended from 10 am of Wednesday till further orders: Southern Railway
#CycloneNivar: #AP govt on high alert, particularly in #Nellore, #Chittoor and #Rayalaseema dists in the wake of #IMD warning of #cyclone impact on the state. #CM @ysjagan asks officials to be prepared to face any eventuality @NewIndianXpress
— TNIE Andhra Pradesh (@xpressandhra) November 24, 2020
The exams that were slotted on Tuesday and Wednesday will be held on December 9, while the final examination will be conducted on December 11. The institute notified that the CA exams have been postponed for examination centres in Chennai, Cuddalore, Kancheepuram, Karaikudi, Kumbakonam, Nagapattinam, Pudukkottai, Tiruvallur, Villupuram and Puducherry.
About 1017 buses of TNSTC VPM corporation attached to 22 depots in Cuddalore, Villupuram & Chengalpattu have been cancelled. Buses will neither be operated to these districts nor will passthrough. The rest of the fleet of VPM division being put into service as usual. @xpresstn
— B Anbuselvan (@anbuselvan_tnie) November 24, 2020
Responding to the cyclone, the District Chief Education Officers have instructed schools to be prepared as shelters for disaster relief. Principals have been asked to hand over the school keys to locals, members of School Management Committee (SMC), corporation staff or local body authorities as soon as a need emerges. Further the keys can be kept with a teacher in the locality or a localite. Further, principals have been instructed to arrange for basic amenities including drinking water, clean toilets and engage NSS students in disaster relief.
#CycloneNivar | Poonamallee High Road near Kilpauk is flooded after heavy rain lashed Chennai.
— The New Indian Express (@NewIndianXpress) November 24, 2020
Express Video | @ddmallick @xpresstn pic.twitter.com/8sqHTsMnb6
Following heavy showers on Tuesday, the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board released helpline numbers. The telephone and mobile numbers have been made available to the public 24 hours a day.
The numbers are as follows:
Chennai South- 9445850434, 9499050188, 044-24713988, 044-23713631
Chennai North- 9445850929, 044-28521833
Chennai Central- 9445449217, 044-28224423
Chennai West- 9445850500, 044-26151153
Kancheepuram- 9445858740, 044-28224423
Chengelpet- 9444099437, 044-27522119
Five flood relief teams and one diving team of the Indian Navy are ready for deployment in Chennai to combat the effects of Cyclone Nivar in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, according to a release. One flood relief team each is on standby at the Naval Detachment in Nagapattinam and Rameswaram and Air Station INS Parundu.
Chief Minister, Edappadi K Palaniswami issued orders to release water from Chembarambakkam lake, in case the level rises above 22 feet. Currently, it is 21.2 feet.
TN CM EPS declares public holiday tomorrow in view of cyclone Nivar; appeals to people not to venture out of their residences unnecessarily and to adhere to the guidelines issued by the government @xpresstn @NewIndianXpress
— T Muruganandham (@muruga_TNIE) November 24, 2020
Southern Railway has made changes in the operation of many trains in view of cyclone Nivar. The most recent update is that Nivar is likely to intensify into a very severe cyclonic storm at the time of landfall with a wind speed of 120-130 kmph gusting to 145 kmph.
Apart from the SDRF men, who are well trained in rescue operations, the local police have also been pressed into service to deal with the situation. “The SDRF teams are being positioned in Vellore, Tirupathur, Ranipet and Tiruvannamalai districts for carrying out rescue operations in view of the cyclone. As many as 210 personnel are being deployed,” Police DIG, Vellore Range, N Kamini told The New Indian Express.
The cyclonic storm Nivar hovering over southwest Bay of Bengal has moved westwards with a speed of 5 kmph in the past six hours, about 380 km east- southeast of Puducherry and 430 km south-southeast of Chennai. It is very likely to intensify further into a severe cyclonic storm in the next 12 hours and into a very severe cyclonic storm during the subsequent 12 hours.
The cyclonic storm is very likely to move west-northwestwards in the next 12 hours and then northwestwards. On the evening of November 25, it is very likely to cross Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coasts between Karaikal and Mamallapuram around Puducherry as a very severe cyclonic storm with a wind speed of 120-130 kmph gusting to 145 kmph.
Rough tides seen at Chennai's Kasimedu fishing harbour. #CycloneAlert #CycloneNivar #NivarCycloneUpdate
— The New Indian Express (@NewIndianXpress) November 24, 2020
Express Photos | @ashwinacharya05 @xpresstn @shibasahu2012 pic.twitter.com/4D5y4Pqhqn
The Puducherry administration has set up a total of 196 relief camps in Puducherry region and 50 in Karaikal region to provide shelter to people residing in vulnerable and low-lying areas.
READ FULL REPORT HERE
The severe cyclonic storm is expected to cross between Karaikal and Mamallapuram around Puducherry by tomorrow evening. Under the influence of this cyclone, rainfall is expected to continue up to 27th November in Tamil Nadu: S Balachandran, IMD Chennai.
Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy on Tuesday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has assured of necessary assistance and support to the union territory from the Centre to deal with cyclone 'Nivar' that is likely to make a landfall on November 25. In a voice message, he said he had apprised the Prime Minister of all precautionary steps taken by the territorial government to face the cyclone during a telephonic conversation.
Commissioner of Revenue Administration, K Phanindra Reddy told reporters that when there are heavy rains, the inflow into Chembarambakkam lake would be around 6,500 cusecs only and this can be easily diverted to Adyar river. Since Adyar river has a capacity to carry 60,000 cusecs of water, the people need not fear about flooding. Besides, people would be intimated in advance about the release of water from Chembarambakkam lake, if the government decides to do so.
Cyclonic storm Nivar is currently centred 450 km southeast of Chennai. It has reduced the speed from 25 kmph yesterday to 5 kmph but is likely to intensify into a severe cyclonic storm during next 24 hours.
Meanwhile, Level 6 warning was issued for Chennai, Katpulli and Kamarajar ports.
Outer bands of Cyclone Nivar to give on and off rains today to Coastal areas of Tamil Nadu from Nagai till Chennai. These outerbands will be gusty at times
— Pradeep John (Tamil Nadu Weatherman) (@praddy06) November 24, 2020
Wind Shear has dipped to 5 knots, Cyclone Nivar should undergo good intensification today. No negatives seen to weaken. pic.twitter.com/0msTdpHHf3
Rough tides at the Marina Beach in Chennai.
— The New Indian Express (@NewIndianXpress) November 24, 2020
Express Video | @ashwinacharya05 #CycloneAlert #NivarCyclone #NivarCycloneUpdate @xpresstn @shibasahu2012 pic.twitter.com/hqeSAxUWjK
Kamrajar Port will be sending all the vessels out by evening. Port chairman Sunil Paliwal told TNIE that there are three vessels are at the port at present and two of them will sail out while one will be moved to outer anchorage if it fails to offload the cargo. Similarly, four vessels are anchored outside. The harbour crafts are filled with fuel and the cranes in the port are at resting position. Kamarajar port will not allowing any vessels as of now till the landing of the cyclone, he said.
As a precautionary effort to handle the #CycloneNivar, 50 sanitation workers attached under #Tiruchy civic body were sent to Cuddalore district. #CycloneAlert #TamilNadu@xpresstn @NewIndianXpress pic.twitter.com/ibODIa782h
— Jayakumar Madala (@JayakumarMadala) November 24, 2020
Spoke to Tamil Nadu CM Shri @EPSTamilNadu and Puducherry CM Shri @VNarayanasami 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.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 24, 2020
"Though it has been raining very heavily in Chennai, the catchment areas of Chembarambakkam did not receive much rainfall. Its level now stands at 21.2 feet and we will release some water only after it reaches 22 feet," said an official from the Public Works Department.
(READ MORE)
PM Narendra Modi called up TN CM EPS this morning and enquired about the precautionary measures being taken to face cyclone Nivar; the Prime Minister assured assistance and cooperation from the Central government to face this cyclone @xpresstn @NewIndianXpress
— T Muruganandham (@muruga_TNIE) November 24, 2020
DGP JK Tripathy has deputed the following Police officers to monitor and supervise the rescue and relief works in the following districts in addition to their normal work.
Kancheepuram & Chengalpattu: TS Anbu, IG, Idol Wing CID, Chennai
Thiruvallur: V Vanitha, IG, Railways, Chennai
Villupuram: Sathiya Priya, DIG, Training, Chennai
Cuddalore: P Nagarajan, IG, North Zone
Trichy, Perambalur & Ariyalur: MC Sarangan, IG, Training
Pudukottai: R Lalitha Lakshmi, DIG, Social Justice and Human Rights, Chennai
Thanjavur: PK Senthilkumari, DIG, Hqrs, Chennai
Thiruvarur: R Tamil Chandran, IG, Armed Police, Trichy
Nagapattinam: HM Jayaram, IG, Central Zo
Even though the #NivarCyclone is still very far from the Tamil Nadu coast, Chennai witnessed heavy rainfall. #NivarCycloneUpdate #CycloneNivar
— The New Indian Express (@NewIndianXpress) November 24, 2020
Express Video | @haisat2005 @xpresstn @shibasahu2012 pic.twitter.com/xUrMIjXRzG
IMD #NivarCyclone path and wind speed upto 60 knots pic.twitter.com/KBPmylcgOA
— Chennai Weather(Cyclone Alert for TN Coast) (@chennaiweather) November 24, 2020
Toll-free: 1077
Collectorate: 04142-220700/233933/221383/221113
RDO: 04142-231284
Sub-collector office, Chidambaram: 04144-222256/290037
Common number: 1077
Vellore: 0416 2258016
Tiruvannamalai: 04175 232377
Ranipet: 04172 273166, 273189, 94896 68833
Tirupathur: 04179 222111, 94429 92526
Power supply in some locations in Chennai like Nerkundram and Chrompet were cut as a precautionary measure.
Ships were ordered to leave to safer places as a precautionary measure while small vessels have been moved to safety inside the port.
Even though the cyclone is still very far from Tamil Nadu coast, Chennai witnessed heavy rainfall on wee hours of Wednesday. Nungambakkam and Meenambakkam weather stations have recorded 7cm of rainfall and West tambaram received 4 cm ( till 5.30 am).
Wind speeds in Chennai could be much higher than what was witnessed during Cyclone Vardah in 2016. The wind speed would increase from 55-65 kmph gusting to 75 kmph on Tuesday to 100-110 kmph gusting to 120 kmph off coastal districts of north Tamil Nadu and Puducherry on Wednesday.
(READ MORE)
Wind shear relents to 10 knots along the projected path of Nivar. From here on we can see good consolidation of Bands & intensification.
— Pradeep John (Tamil Nadu Weatherman) (@praddy06) November 23, 2020
Bands after Bands with breaks will hit coastal areas henceforth with short spells and gusty winds. Remember cyclone is still very far away. pic.twitter.com/g6alJoj4qR
The officials are also concerned that Cyclone Nivar could slightly deviate in its path like Cyclone Gaja which could put southern half of Nagapattinam district in risk.
(READ MORE)
Palaniswami also instructed that a sufficient quantum of vaccines, medicines, and green manure be kept ready in advance, along with mobile communication equipment. On behalf of the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board, as many as 1,000 workers should be deputed to areas prone to be affected, with additional electric poles, and transformers, he said, adding that sufficient stock of petrol and diesel should also be kept at bunks.
(READ MORE)
Revenue Minister RB Udhayakumar today said all arrangements are in place to face cyclone Nivar while special attention would be paid to those who would be given shelter in relief camps for preventing the spread of coronavirus.
(READ MORE)
The National Crisis Management Committee, headed by Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba, met at New Delhi and reviewed various measures in view of the cyclone. It also directed various stakeholders, including state governments concerned, to continue to work with an aim of zero loss of life and early restoration of normalcy in affected areas.
Chennai and neighbouring districts are likely to get 11 cm to 20 cm of rainfall spells. The wind speed would increase from 55-65 kmph gusting to 75 kmph on Tuesday to 100-110 kmph gusting to 120 kmph off coastal districts of north Tamil Nadu and Puducherry on Wednesday.
If it takes the predicted path, Nivar will hit Delta districts hard. The IMD has sounded red alert in Ariyalur, Myaduturai, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Cuddalore, Villupuram, Tiruvanamalai, Kallakurichi and Perambalur. While orange alert is issued in north coastal districts like Chennai, Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur, Chengalpet and interior districts like Vellore, Dharmapuri, Tirupattur and Krishnagiri.
(READ MORE)
