Cyclone Nivar, which made landfall near Puducherry early on November 26, is now a severe cyclonic storm, and is expected to weaken further by midnight. It leaves behind a trail of destruction, including flooded roads and damaged property, particularly in the coastal areas of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.
The cyclone made landfall from 11.30 pm. on Wednesday night till 2.30 a.m. on Thursday. The severe cyclonic storm now lays centered over north coastal Tamil Nadu, about 60 km north of Puducherry. It has a wind speed of 85 to 95 kmph.
Here are the latest updates:
Over 1,000 trees uprooted
Officials said about 1,086 trees were uprooted in Tamil Nadu and almost all of them have been removed. In a few places, overhead electricity cables snapped as heavy trees fell over them and also some vehicles. In Chennai, citizens in many parts complained of disruption in internet services.
In Puducherry, the estimated loss to agriculture and other sectors due to cyclone Nivar has been tentatively put at Rs 400 crore and a full assessment is being made, CM Narayanasamy said, adding, the territorial administration would seek an interim relief of Rs 50 crore from the Centre. - PTI
Nivar weakened into a cyclonic storm and further into a deep depression, centered about 50 km west-southwest of Tirupati at 2.30 p.m., the India Meteorological Department (IMD) officials said.
According to IMD, it is to weaken into a depression during the next six hours.
How Tamil meme nation kept Chennai’s spirits high during the cyclone
A cyclone is no joke, we know, but that is no reason to not laugh off the stress. Even as rain lashed Chennai, Tamil meme nation (as the city’s meme makers are referred to) stayed busy, conjuring up witty visual interpretations of the situation. One of the most popular memes doing the rounds on social media and WhatsApp revolved around a still featuring comedian Vivekh’s popular track in Tamil film Run. It said, in Tamil: "The cyclone would have remained calm if it was named 'Kedar Jadhav', hinting at the batsman’s dismal show in the recent IPL.
Of course there were detractors, but the man featured in the photo — comedian Vivekh — shared it on Twitter, stating it was the work of some “idea ulla pasanga” (guys with a lot of creativity), which was in turn re-tweeted by more than 1,000 users. Elsewhere, stills of Hollywood flick Interstellar were circulated with a caption: “Cooper has arrived in Velachery.”
Rescuing animals during Cyclone Nivar
As the rain poured and wind raged, a group of Chennaiites have sprung into action to rescue trapped animals, birds and reptiles. One of those groups, Hope For Critters, has been answering calls around the city, from people reporting stranded or trapped animals ever since Cyclone Nivar began to batter the city.
About 80% of calls were for puppies in clogged and stranded areas, says Kirthana, who helms the organisation. "We rescue the puppies as well as their mother, and take them to a safer place," she says, adding that a couple of calls were recieved for cattle as well.
Reservoirs brim with copious water reserves
Torrential rains under the impact of cyclone Nivar lashed the hill town of Tirumala in the last couple of days, filling all the major reservoirs up to their full capacity. A maximum of 125 mm of rainfall was recorded in the heart of the town in the last 24 hours ending at 8 a.m. on Thursday while the peripheral and forest areas where the drinking water projects are located recorded a rainfall between 155 mm to 313 mm.
According to the Executive Engineer (Water Works) D.V. Srihari, the storage level in Papavinasanam dam, which is the main source of drinking water to the temple town, has reached 696.85 feet against its Full Reservoir Level (FRL) of 697.14 ft while other dams (Gogarbham, Akasa Ganga, Kumaradhara and Pasupudhara) have crossed their FR Levels. With the supply channels bringing copious waters into the projects, the crest gates at a couple of dams were lifted allowing the excess water to flow downstream. - G.P. Shukla
Torrential rains in A.P., one dead
Normal life was thrown out ofgear as heavy to extremely heavy rainfall ranging from 6 cm to 30 cm battered at least half of Andhra Pradesh under the influence of cyclone Nivar, leaving one dead.
Another farmer was feared washed away while NDRF personnel rescued two others from a reservoir in Chittoor district.
According to the State Disaster Management Authority, SPS Nellore, Chittoor, Kadapa, Krishna, Prakasam and East Godavari districts received heavy to extremely heavy rainfall at more than 177 places. Other districts like Anantapuramu, Kurnool, Guntur and West Godavari were also receiving moderate to heavy rainfall under Nivars impact. — PTI
24 NDRF teams on rescue mission
As many as 24 NDRF teams were assigned for rescue and relief operations, said Randeep Rana, DIG, NDRF. This includes 15 in Tamil Nadu, 4 in Puducherry & 6 in Andhra Pradesh.
Landfall happened yesterday at midnight. Precautionary measures being taken, said Mr. Rana.
DMDK calls for relief measures on a war-footing
Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) founder Vijayakant on Thursday urged the State government to take measures on a war-footing in areas affected by Cyclone Nivar.
In a statement, he noted that many areas in Chennai have been flooded due to heavy rains and the State government and Greater Chennai Corporation should take measures to clear the water logging. Mr. Vijayakant urged the State government to provide food and other relief materials to the affected people.
Besides clearing the water logging, the government should ensure that the COVID-19 pandemic does not spread and also repair the roads which have been damaged due to the cyclone, the statement said.
Chennai suburban train services resume
The Southern Railway resumed limited suburban train services from Thursday noon.
In a press release, it said, the Workmen Suburban train services, which was suspended earlier in view of Cyclone Nivar, would be operated from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Train services in three routes including Chennai Moore Market Complex – Arakkonam, Chennai Moore Market Complex – Gummudipoondi and Chennai Beach-Chengalpattu would be operated every one hour in up and down directions.
It maybe noted that the suburban services has not been resumed completely due to COVID-19. - R. Srikanth
Section 144 rescinded in Puducherry
The district administration has rescinded an earlier directive extending prohibitory orders under Section 144 CrPc to 6 pm on Thursday in the wake of Cyclone Nivar making a landfall.
In a subsequent order, District Collector Purva Garg, said prohibitory orders were rescinded based on a reassessment that there was no loss of life or major damage to property following evacuation, relief and rehabilitation measures.
Further, the Indian Meteorological Department had informed that the cyclone had moved about 60 km north of Puducherry, the order stated.
Jagan asks officials to stay alert
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy instructed officials to take all steps to contain the damage caused by cyclone Nivar, which made landfall off Tamil Nadu coast in the early hours of Thursday.
Taking stock of the rainfall triggered by the severe cyclone, Mr. Reddy said, along with measures for rehabilitation of the affected people, officials should also assess the damage caused to crops so that the government could seek Central assistance thereafter.
Officials told the CM that although the cyclone had crossed the Tamil Nadu coast and it's impact was gradually coming down, they continued to be alert to face any emergency.
Many residents in Madipakkam and Velachery spent a sleepless night fearing floods
A view of flooded Madras War Cemetery at Nandambakkam in Chennai on Thursday.
Hundreds of Chennai residents living Madipakkam, Velachery, Pallikaranai and surrounding areas had a sleepless night on Wednesday, fearing that flood water would enter their homes.
In several streets of Ram Nagar, Kuberan Nagar Extension, Ram Nagar Extension, Balaji Nagar, Madipakkam and Velachery, rain water had entered houses on Wednesday morning itself.
Bus transport resumes
Bus transport services in seven districts, where they were suspended in view of cyclone Nivar, resumed from noon on Thursday. The bus transport had been suspended in Chengalpattu, Villupuram, Cuddalore, Nagapattinam, Tirivarur, Thanjavur and Pudukkottai districts from 1 pm on November 24.
The decision of the State government to allow resuming of bus transport followed the cyclone making its landfall on the stretch between Puducherry and Marakkanam, an official release said.
Nivar weakens into cyclonic storm
Severe Cyclonic Storm “NIVAR” weakened into a Cyclonic Storm over north coastal Tamilnadu.The Cyclonic Storm ‘NIVAR’ would continue to move northwestwards and weaken further into a Deep Depression during next 06 hours and into a depression by subsequent 06 hours.
Temperature drops in Bengaluru
A steady and light drizzle, accompanied by winds, brought down the temperature in the city. Citizens woke up to a cloudy and muggy morning on Thursday, due to the effect of cyclone Nivar.
According to the IMD forecast, the maximum temperature (recorded on Wednesday) was 23.8 degrees Celsius, which is a three degree drop from normal temperature. The minimum temperature of 19.6 degrees Celsius, however, registered a three degree increase from normal temperature.
The Met department forecast predicted isolated heavy rains in some districts of South Interior Karnataka, including Bengaluru. The city has received just 1.8 mm rain so far. - Chitra V. Ramani
Nivar triggers rainfall in Krishna district
Several parts of Krishna district, including Vijayawada city, received light to moderate rainfall following the landfall of severe cyclonic storm Nivar during the intervening night of Wednesday and Thursday.
The district received an average rainfall of 9 mm as of 8.30 a.m. on Thursday. Mundinepalli mandal received the highest rainfall of 25.6 mm followed by Bantumilli (25.4 mm), Nagayalanka (25.4 mm) and Pedana (22.4 mm) which are close to the coast. Vijayawada recorded 9.4 mm rainfall through the night.
A similar weather condition is likely on Thursday. Heavy rainfall is likely to occur in isolated places in the district as per the IMD forecast. - Tharun Boda
Nivar causes damage in Vellore, Tirupathur and Ranipet districts
People from Indra Nagar in Vellore, shift with their belongings on Thursday.
Heavy rain and gusty wind due to cyclone Nivar caused some damage to property in Vellore, Tirupathur and Ranipet districts. These districts have been receiving heavy rain as the system is set to cross Vellore on Thursday morning.
In Vellore, a total of five huts were damaged, 15 trees and four electricity poles fell due to the wind, approximately 14 acres of banana plantation were damaged. A total of 474 persons have been accommodated in 16 relief centres.
In Tirupathur district, one hut was damaged, three trees and two electricity poles fell and one acre of banana plantation was destroyed. A total of 480 persons have been shifted to 14 relief centres.
Meanwhile in Ranipet district, one calf died, five huts and two tiled houses were damaged and nine trees fell due to the wind. “It started raining heavily in Vellore and neighbouring districts.
PMK hails pro-active measures to tackle cyclone Nivar
PMK founder S Ramadoss on Thursday said the impact from cyclone Nivar has been lesser than expected, however the state government should provide relief to the affected areas.
In a statement, he hailed the proactive measures and co-ordinated efforts taken by the State government, India Meteorological Department and National Disaster Response Force and other organisations and people involved in the relief measures on the ground.
Dr. Ramadoss pointed out that Cuddalore district has been severely impacted from the cyclone. He called for assistance to people whose huts were damaged in Cuddalore and Villupuram districts and also assistance for those who have lost their livelihoods. He also urged the Puducherry government to take necessary relief and recovery measures.
He instructed PMK cadres to undertake relief measures by providing food materials in the affected areas and involve in relief work by following all safety precautions without waiting for state disaster staff to arrive.
Colonies in Kadiri inundated
Water enters houses in Sharaf Narayana Rao street at Kadiri in Anantapur district following heavy rain from early hours due to the impact of Cyclone Nirav on Thursday.
Cyclone Nirav brought heavy rains to the south and south-eastern parts of Anantapur district leading to the inundation of many areas mainly including the low-lying areas in Kadiri town.
Seven mandals in the district recorded between 13 mm and 26 mm rainfall in 24 hours ending 8.30 a.m. on Thursday.
Water entered houses in Sharaf Narayana Rao street in Kadiri town in the district following heavy rain from early hours and Kadiri mandal recorded 17.4 mm of rain in 24 hours till Thursday morning.
“We have deployed sanitation staff all over the town to clear drains so that no inundation takes place,” Kadiri municipal commissioner K. Pramila told The Hindu . - Ramesh Susarla
Traffic restored in 223 roads
Chennai Corporation workers clearing a fallen tree at College Road, Chennai on Thursday.
Greater Chennai Corporation has sent teams to remove 267 trees that were uprooted on Thursday. Traffic has been restored along 223 roads after removal of trees.
Chennai Corporation has identified 58 locations where water stagnation is severe. Over 17 areas have been cleared by Thursday morning.
A total of 3738 residents are lodged at 68 relief centres. - Aloysius Xavier Lopez
Water discharge from Chembarambakkam reservoir has been reduced to 500 cusecs around 10 a.m. this morning. - K. Lakshmi
TN CM to visit Cuddalore
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami will be visiting cyclone-hit areas in Cuddalore district later today. A convoy is expected to leave his camp office by noon.
Cuddalore appears to be the worst hit district in Tamil Nadu, due to cyclone Nivar. The district received 246 mm rain till 2 am today.
As per the latest Tamil Nadu bulletin, three people have lost their lives due to the cylone. As many as 2,27,317 people, including over 40,000 children, have been lodged in over 3,000 camps. - Dennis S. Jesudasan
Bridge submerged in Marakkanam
Children walk along a bridge submerged in rainwater in Marakkanam, Tamil Nadu, on Thursday.
Nearly 200 families at Kaanimedu in Villupuram district have been cut-off from Marakkanam after a road bridge was submerged in the aftermath of Cyclone Nivar, which made its landfall near Marakkanam in Villupuram district on Wednesday night.
Amit Shah calls TN, Puducherry CMs
Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke to Chief Ministers of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry and assured all possible support from the Centre, in the wake of cyclone Nivar, which made landfall last night.
“We are closely monitoring the situation in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry in the wake of Cyclone Nivar. Have spoken to CM Shri @EPSTamilNadu and CM Shri @VNarayanasami and assured all possible help from the centre. NDRF teams already on ground to help people in need," Mr. Shah tweeted.
Chennai Metro to resume operations
Chennai Metro Rail services, which was halted due to cyclone Nivar will resume from 12 noon today.
"In connection with Niver Cyclone, Metro Train Services will start by today (26.11.2020) 12.00 pm, will run with Holiday Train Services Time table with the headway of 10 mins," CMRL said. - Sunitha Sekar
Bus transport to resume from noon today
Bus transport services in seven districts, where they were suspended in view of cyclone Nivar, would resume from noon today, the Tamil Nadu government announced on Thursday morning.
Bus transport had been suspended in Chengalpattu, Villupuram, Cuddalore, Nagapattinam, Tirivarur, Thanjavur and Pudukkottai districts since 1 pm on November 24.
The decision of the State government follows the landfall in the stretch between Puducherry and Marakkanam, an official release said.
Prohibitory orders extended in Puducherry till 6 pm
Commuters wading through water-logged streets in Puducherry on Thursday.
The District Administration in Puducherry has extended prohibitory orders imposed under Section 144 of CrPc till 6 p.m. on Thursday.
Earlier the plan was to have the restrictions in place till 6 a.m. on Thursday.
People who came out in large numbers without knowing about the extension of time were persuaded to return home by law enforcers.
Shops and commercial establishments were asked to down shutters till evening.
Widespread rain likely in coastal Andhra
Fishermen move a boat to safety in the coastal village of Kothapatnam in Prakasam district on Wednesday.
Light to moderate rain or thundershowers is very likely to occur at most of the places in north coastal Andhra Pradesh and moderate rainfall is expected in south coastal and Rayalaseema districts on November 26, under the influence of cyclonic storm Nivar.
Under its influence, heavy to very heavy rain is very likely to occur at isolated places in Kurnool, Kadapa, Guntur and Prakasam districts. Heavy to very heavy rainfall is very likely to occur at one or two places in Chittoor district. Isolated heavy rainfall is very likely to occur in Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam, East Godavari, West Godavari, Krishna, Nellore and Anantapur districts on Thursday, according to the Cyclone Warning Centre (CWC), Visakhapatnam.
Wind speed reaching 50-60 km per hour is likely to blow over Guntur, Prakasam, Nellore, Chittoor, Kadapa and Kurnool districts.
The sea condition is likely to remain rough off south Andhra Pradesh coast. Fishermen have been advised to suspend fishing operations and not to venture into sea.
Meanwhile, local cautionary signal number three (LC-III) was hoisted at Machilipatnam, Krishnapatnam, Nizampatnam and Vadarevu ports. Distant warning signal number two (DW-II) kept hoisted at Visakhapatnam port. The DW-II with section signal number- IV kept hoisted at Kakinada and Gangavaram ports.
Delta districts heave a sigh of relief as Nivar skirts destruction
Tamil Nadu Fire and Rescue Services personnel leave for various parts of Nagapattinam district equipped with rafts and other emergency equipment on Wednesday.
People in the delta district, particularly fishermen along the coastal areas of the delta region, heaved a sigh of relief at the break of dawn on Thursday as Nivar cyclone that made a landfall in the intervening night was not as intense as feared.
There was no life loss reported so far, and damages to livestock and physical infrastructure were minimal.
Many spent a sleepless night as heavy rain lashed with strong winds all throughout when the cyclone made a landfall. No one was allowed to venture out of their homes particularly at the time of landfall spanning a few hours.
Many parts of the districts including Sirkazhi, Kollidam and Vaidheeswarran Kovil received more than 150 mm rainfall.
Power cables were snapped at least in five places in the district. Instances of uprooting of trees were reported at a few places along the Mayiladuthurai-Kollidam highway.
Water release from Chembarambakkam reservoir reduced
Kancheepuram collector Mageswari Ravikumar has announced that the water release from Chembarambakkam reservoir has been reduced considerably to 1,500 cusecs around 7.30 a.m. on Thursday as rains have receded. The sluices gates of RedHills reservoir may not be opened on Thursday as it may take another two days to reach the maximum water level, noted officials of Water Resources Department.
Nivar remains a severe cyclonic storm after making landfall
A huge tree was uprooted on Victor Simonel Street near the Puducherry Government Hospital in the aftermath of Cyclone Nivar, which made its landfall near Puducherry on Novemeber 25 night.
Cyclone Nivar made landfall near Puducherry , south of Chennai as a very severe cyclonic storm. The landfall that started from 11.30 pm. on Wednesday night lasted till 2.30 a.m. on Thursday.
In the process of landfall, it dumped extremely heavy rainfall in coastal areas. Puducherry received the highest of 30 cm rains followed by Cuddalore 27 cm and Chidambaram 13 cm. Rains lashed many places in and around Chennai too. While Nungambakkam recorded 11 cm, Poonamallee and Taramani received 10 cm till 6.30 a.m. on Thursday.
The severe cyclonic storm Nivar now lay centered over north coastal Tamil Nadu, about 50 km northnorthwest of Puducherry. It still maintains a wind speed of 85 to 95 kmph as it moves to interior areas. It would move northwest wards and weaken further into a cyclonic storm during next three hours.
Places like Ambur, Tiruvannamalai, Vellore and Arani may experience squally winds with a speed of 50 kmph. In Chennai, rains may continue and winds will be strong for next six hours, according to the Meteorological Department.
Chennai airport to remain closed for operations till 9 a.m.
Empty tracks: A view of a flooded runway at the Chennai airport on Wednesday.
The official Twitter handle of AAI Chennai Airport said "The closure of #AAI #Chennaiairport due to #CycloneNivar stands extended till 0900hrs of 26.11.2020, on assessing the prevailing climatic conditions and taking passenger safety as top priority. The inconvenience caused is deeply regretted."
The Chennai airport had suspended domestic, international and cargo operations from 7 p.m. on Wednesday till 7 a.m. on Thursday in the wake of Cyclone Nivar.
Airports Authority of India (AAI) officials said the decision was taken considering the safety of the passengers.
One killed, many injured as Nivar makes landfall in Puducherry
According to the police, a 47-year-old woman died when her house collapsed at Konur near Villupuram. The house collapsed due to the heavy rain before the direct landfall of the cyclone happened, police said. Her husband, who was also trapped, was rescued and is now undergoing treatment at a government hospital in the district.
Two people sustained minor injuries near Nettapakkam in Puducherry when their house collapsed early morning. They were treated at the Primary Heath Centre and discharged.
One elderly woman with a child was rescued from Rainbow Nagar in Puducherry after their house got inundated.
More than 10 trees got uprooted in the town and East Coast Road in Puducherry. Power supply in several parts of the U.T. remained disrupted from Wednesday 11 a.m. According to an Electricity Department official, supply would be restored only after the wind stops.
Early reports suggest not much damage in Cuddalore district, except for incidents of trees falling.
Rainfall likely to continue in Tamil Nadu
Deputy Director General of Meteorology, Chennai, S Balachandran said rainfall is likely to continue in Tamil Nadu. “The storm now lies inside the land area. There will, however, be rainfall and strong winds as well,” he told PTI. In the next six hours, the severe cyclonic storm will further weaken, he said.
According to IMD tweet, the amount of rainfall during 08:30 a.m. of 25th November 25 and 02:30 a.m. of November 26:
- Nagapatnam-63 mm
- Karaikal-86 mm
- Cuddalore-246 mm
- Puducherry - 237 mm
- Chennai - 89 mm
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