India / Cyclone Nivar to hit TN, Puducherry with wind speed of up to 145 kmph

Chennai: As Tamil Nadu and Puducherry get ready to bear the impact of Cyclone Nivar, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) on Wednesday (November 25) said the severe cyclonic storm has moved west-north-westwards with a speed of 6 kmph in the past six hours and now lies centred at 0230 hrs IST over southwest Bay of Bengal.

The cyclone is expected to move further west-north-westwards in the next six hours and then north-westwards and intensify into a very severe cyclonic storm in the next 12 hours.

The cyclone is predicted to make a landfall between Karaikal and Mamallapuram late on Wednesday evening and rage at a wind speed of 120-130 kmph gusting to 145 kmph, the IMD bulletin said.

On Tuesday, heavy rains in Chennai and adjoining areas led to water logging and flooding in several city stretches. The Regional Meteorological Centre in Chennai has predicted heavy rains for the state till Thursday.

Tamil Nadu has declared a state-wide holiday on Wednesday in view of the cyclone. Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on Tuesday reviewed the state’s preparedness and announced that those involved in essential services will continue to work. The chief minister said around 4,000 vulnerable locations have been identified and asked people to stay indoors.

The state is also monitoring the rise in water levels in the four reservoirs at Poondi, Cholavaram, Red Hills and Chembarambakkam to avoid a flood-like situation as seen in 2015.

“We are ensuring clear channels for smooth flow of water and safe storage in large lakes,” Revenue Minister RB Udhayakumar, in-charge of the state disaster management department told NDTV.