The ‘very severe cyclonic storm’ Cyclone Nivar, which made landfall in Puducherry, left in its wake a trail of destruction in the form of uprooted trees, flooded roads and damaged property. The landfall that started from 11.30 pm. on Wednesday night lasted till 2.30 a.m. on Thursday. Numerous teams of disaster relief organisations, both central and private, are braving coronavirus infections to do the needful.
Here is a glimpse of the aftermath of the cyclone along the coastal areas of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, as captured by The Hindu’s photographers. Follow our live for more updates.
Onwards: People wade through the water-logged streets of Consalpet in Vellore. Thousands of people have been evacutated to storm shelters across Tamil Nadu due to warnings issued in connection with Cyclone Nivar.
Water, the great equaliser: The historic Madras War Cemetery in Chennai’s Nandambakkam was flooded following two days of rain. Here, tombstones stand partially submerged on November 26.
Fallen heros: Following persistant rain and strong wind, many trees were uprooted in different parts of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. In this photo, a huge tree on Victor Simonel Street near the Puducherry Government Hospital lies on the ground after it was ripped out in th cyclonic winds.
In Mamallapuram, a heritage town and popular tourist destination, huts were damaged in the strong winds and torrential rain. As rains lashed, troops of monkeys sought refuge under the decorative, cave-like arches, dotted with images of deities carved in stone at the ancient Sri Sthalasayana Perumal temple.
Heading home: Motorists ride through the waterlogged Villupuram Road near Indira Gandhi Square in Puducherry on Thursday, following heavy rains caused by Cyclone Nivar. The Villupuram Road was one of the many which were rendered unnavigable by flooding.
Water water everywhere: The Manimangalam main road resembled a lake on Thursday after the Chembarambakkam reservoir opened its shutters to release excess water. on Thursday.
An island: A residential colony stands erect amidst a sea of water after the Chembarambakkam reservoir was opened to release of excess rain water on Thursday.
Stuck, again: Migrant workers from Bihar, Odisha and Jharkhand heading to Bengaluru and Kerala were stranded at Chennai’s Moore Market Complex near the Chennai Central railway station after train services were suspended in the wake of the cyclone.
Where is the crop?: In Mayiladuthurai district, paddy fields were submerged after prolonged rainfall brought on by Cyclone Nivar. In this phot taken in Neithavasal village, a farmer stands in a flooded field.
Assessing damage: After the cyclone has passed, the Director of Fisheries Department P. Muthu Meena ventures out to the sea in an inflated Coast Guard boat from Thengaithittu harbour to assess damage to fishing boats anchored at Arikamedu.
And we are back! Half a day after Cyclone Nivar made landfall, a group of youths take selfie at Srinivasapuram shore in Chennai.
Calm after the storm: Chennai’s Marina beach looks idyllic as the rains abated following Cyclone Nivar.