Tamil Nadu, Puducherry brace for Cyclone Nivar — Heavy rains lash Chennai ahead of landfall

Navdeep YadavNov 25, 2020, 09:46 IST

IANS/BCCL

The Cyclone Nivar is expected to make a landfall between Karaikal and Mamallapuram in the late evening today (November 25) with a wind speed of up to 145kmph.
Nivar is the second cyclone in the Bay of Bengal this year. In May, Cyclone Amphan had developed into a “super cyclonic storm”.
Ahead of the impending cyclone, the authorities in the southwest have declared a holiday, banned public gatherings, closed shops and mobilised thousands of rescue personnel.

The Cyclone Nivar is expected to make a landfall between Karaikal and Mamallapuram after intensifying into a severe cyclonic storm in the late evening today (November 25) with a wind speed of up to 145kmph, according to the India Meteorological Department Director-General Mrutunjay Mohapatra.

Ahead of the cyclone landfall, the city of Chennai has witnessed heavy rainfall accompanied by strong winds and high tides this morning. It received 120 mm rainfall from 8:30 hours yesterday till 5:30 hours today, as per the IMD.

The Met Department has warned of a storm surge of about 2m above the sea level around the time of landfall, causing inundation of low-lying areas. Some parts of Andhra Pradesh are also forecast to be slammed by the cyclone.

Nivar is the second cyclone in the Bay of Bengal this year. In May, Cyclone Amphan had developed into a “super cyclonic storm”.

What is a landfall?

Landfall is the event when the cyclonic storms move towards the land after being on the water for some time. This does not mean that a cyclone has ‘hit the land’ or arrived. The cyclone arrives hours before the landfall bringing rainfall and dust storms.

According to the US National Hurricane Center, “A Landfall is the intersection of the center of a tropical cyclone with a coastline.”

Here’s how the authorities are bracing for Cyclone Nivar:

Ahead of the impending cyclone, the authorities in the southwest have declared a holiday, banned public gatherings, closed shops and mobilised thousands of rescue personnel.

BCCL

Ahead of the impending cyclone, the authorities in the southwest have declared a holiday, banned public gatherings, closed shops and mobilised thousands of rescue personnel.

The government has identified 4,133 locations that would be affected by Nivar and the District Collectors concerned have been instructed to take special care. The Cyclone relief camps have been set up in 3,344 locations of the state.

The government has identified 4,133 locations that would be affected by Nivar and the District Collectors concerned have been instructed to take special care. The Cyclone relief camps have been set up in 3,344 locations of the state.

The Centre has deployed as many as 30 teams of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Andhra Pradesh and 20 additional teams have been kept on standby to assist local authorities on possible evacuations from vulnerable coastal areas.

The Centre has deployed as many as 30 teams of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Andhra Pradesh and 20 additional teams have been kept on standby to assist local authorities on possible evacuations from vulnerable coastal areas.

The authorities have also directed fishermen not to venture into the sea, and the residents in the coastal areas have been evacuated to shelter houses.

Flights to or from the southern region, mainly Chennai, have been disrupted. IndiGo in a statement said a total of 49 flights that were scheduled for today had been cancelled in the view of Cyclone Nivar. The Southern Railway has also cancelled a number of trains and bus-services in seven districts of Tamil Nadu have been suspended.

Flights to or from the southern region, mainly Chennai, have been disrupted. IndiGo in a statement said a total of 49 flights that were scheduled for today had been cancelled in the view of Cyclone Nivar. The Southern Railway has also cancelled a number of trains and bus-services in seven districts of Tamil Nadu have been suspended.

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Tamil Nadu, Puducherry brace for Cyclone Nivar — Heavy rains lash Chennai ahead of landfall

Ahead of the impending cyclone, the authorities in the southwest have declared a holiday, banned public gatherings, closed shops and mobilised thousands of rescue personnel.

The government has identified 4,133 locations that would be affected by Nivar and the District Collectors concerned have been instructed to take special care. The Cyclone relief camps have been set up in 3,344 locations of the state.

The Centre has deployed as many as 30 teams of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Andhra Pradesh and 20 additional teams have been kept on standby to assist local authorities on possible evacuations from vulnerable coastal areas.

The authorities have also directed fishermen not to venture into the sea, and the residents in the coastal areas have been evacuated to shelter houses.