Flights operations were cancelled from 7 pm onward at the Chennai airport for 12 hours; metro and buses services suspended, and trains cancelled or diverted as torrential rain and heavy winds continued to lash Chennai and the coastal districts of Tamil Nadu ahead of severe cyclone ‘Nivar’s landfall. More than 1.25 lakh people have been shifted to safer places in the State.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD) late at night, the landfall process of Nivar has commenced and it would cross the coast soon. The IMD, on its twitter handle said, “Very severe cyclonic storm Nivar now lies about 50 km east-southeast of Cuddalore, about 40 km east southeast of Puducherry. Landfall process commence. Centre of cyclone to cross coast near puducherry within next 3 hours."
The cyclone is likely to cross Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coasts between Karaikal and Mamallapuram around early hours (2am) of November 26 with a wind speed of 120-130 kmph, gusting up to 145 kmph. Nivar has brought with it heavy rain and strong winds in coastal Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.
In Chennai, the impact of powerful cyclone is being felt in the form of heavy rain and waterlogging in parts of
the city. Velachery, Madipakkam, Valluvar Kottam, Royapetta, Triplicane and adjacent sides of Mount Road — all prime areas in Chennai — have reported waterlogging. The authorities also announced a closure of all roads leading to Marina beach, Pattinambakkam, Kasimedu Harbour, Besant Nagar beach, and Thiruvanmiyur.
The Railways has cancelled over a dozen special trains on November 25 and 26 scheduled to either originate from and terminate in the southern States of the country in view of the impending cyclone Nivar, and offered full refund.
The Tamil Nadu Government has extended public holiday for 13 districts including Chennai, Vellore, Cuddalore, Villupuram, Nagapattinam, Tiruvarur, Chengelpet and Kancheepuram till Thursday. More than 40 flights have been cancelled so far. The gates of Chembarambakkam reservoir were opened on Wednesday for the first time in five years as a precautionary measure, releasing a torrent of surplus water into the Adyar river after its storage was just 20 per cent short of its capacity. The Tamil Nadu Government has put eight choppers on standby for rescue operations.
The IMD has said moving at a speed of about 7kmph over the past six hours, the severe cyclone Nivar lay centred about 290km east-southeast of Cuddalore, about 300km east-southeast of Puducherry and 350km south-southeast of Chennai. The IMD said a storm surge of about two metres above the sea level was likely around the time of landfall, causing inundation of low-lying areas.
In its bulletin, the IMD said damage expected over Nagapattinam, Myladuthurai, Cuddalore, Villupuram and Chengalpattu districts of Tamilnadu and Karaikal and Puducherry. Ahead of the landfall, coastal areas, Chennai and its suburbs, which received heavy overnight rains, continued to witness intermittent showers coupled with strong winds with low-lying areas getting inundated and water entering houses in such localities.
Besides Chennai, north interior Tamil Nadu and Puducherry (Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Cuddalore, Kanchipuram, Chengalpattu, Myladuthirai, Ariyalur, Perambalur, Kallakurchi, Villupuram, Tiruvannamalai, Puducherry and Karaikal districts) , Nellore and Chittoor districts of Andhra Pradesh have received moderate to heavy rainfall on Wednesday.
Rainfall is expected to continue in many places in these regions on Thursday too with heavy rainfall at some places.
The NDRF has issued advisory, asking people to keep mobile phones charged for connectivity; switch off the gas supply and electric mains to avoid chances of short circuit; drink boiled or chlorinated water if the water supply is snapped; rely only on official warnings and if you are outdoors, don’t take shelter at damaged, under-construction building.
The Puducherry Government on Wednesday said that the Union Territory anticipates damage to crops, thatched roofs, and old buildings, besides power and communication lines. On Wednesday, Puducherry banned large gatherings and public movement till 6 am on Thursday. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has asked officials to be on high alert when the storm crosses the coast.
According to IMD director general Dr Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, even after landfall, the system is likely to maintain its cyclone intensity for about 6 hours and weaken gradually.