India / Sec 144 in Puducherry from tonight, red alert in Tamil Nadu over Cyclone Nivar

Chennai: The deep depression in the Bay of Bengal intensified into a Cyclonic storm 'Nivar' on Tuesday morning and will in all probability make landfall around Puducherry on Wednesday evening as a severe cyclonic storm. The governments of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry have mounted massive efforts to minimise damage due to Cyclone Nivar.

When the cyclone makes its landfall around Puducherry, it is likely to pack winds with 100-110 km per hour speed. As a precautionary measure, the Union Territory of Puducherry announced implementation of Section 144 from 9 pm on Tuesday to 6 am on Thursday during which shops and commercial establishments will remain closed.

Chennai and its neighbouring areas are experiencing heavy rainfall since Monday night with the metropolis recording 42.31 mm of rainfall in the last 24 hours ending 8 am on Tuesday. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall in Chennai, Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur, and Chengalpattu districts for the next 24 hours and warned of flooding, disruption of electricity and water services, possible damage to roads, and some areas getting inundated.

In its latest bulletin released at 11.30 am on Tuesday, the IMD said the cyclonic storm over south-west Bay of Bengal remained practically stationary during past three hours and lay centred at 8.30 am about 410 km east-south-east of Puducherry and 450 km south-east of Chennai.

“It is very likely to intensify further into a severe cyclonic storm during the next 24 hours. It is very likely to move west-north-westwards for the next 12 hours and then north-westwards. It is very likely to cross Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coasts between Karaikal and Mamallapuram around Puducherry on November 25 evening as a severe cyclonic storm,” the IMD bulletin said.

It also said fairly widespread to widespread rainfall/thunderstorm will occur over coastal and north interior Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Karaikal till November 26. Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Chief Ministers of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry – Edappadi K Palaniswami, and V Narayanasamy – on Tuesday morning and assured all possible help from the Centre.

With the IMD predicting that the Cyclone may make its landfall near Puducherry, the governments of Tamil Nadu and the Union Territory have moved swiftly to take enough precautionary measures. Tamil Nadu suspended public transport in Pudukkottai, Nagapattinam, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Cuddalore, Villupuram, and Chengalpattu districts from 1 pm on Tuesday till further orders.

Tamil Nadu Revenue Minister R B Udhayakumar said the government has set up control rooms in all 36 revenue districts in the state, while making it clear that people living in low-lying areas vulnerable to flooding and cyclones will be moved to safety. Narayanasamy said the Puducherry government has begun evacuating people living in low-lying areas to safety.

Tamil Nadu Electricity Board (TNEB) has announced that it will suspend power supply when the cyclone makes its landfall on Wednesday, even as it contended that it has kept electric poles ready in case some are uprooted due to the wind speed. Southern Railway fully cancelled two trains, and partially cancelled nine trains on November 24 and 25. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has rushed 12 teams across Tamil Nadu, and Puducherry and pre-positioned them as part of its precautionary measures, while three teams are kept on stand-by at its base in Arakkonam near Chennai.

After holding a review meeting on Monday, Palaniswami ordered Collectors of the aforementioned seven districts to ensure that the relief centres are equipped with facilities to accommodate people who are evacuated from their homes. He also asked people not to step out of their homes on November 24 and 25 due to Cyclone Nivar.