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UPDATES: Cyclone Nivar commences landfall process as coastal areas witness torrential rains

(NASA via AP)
(NASA via AP)

Very severe cyclonic storm Nivar made landfall near Puducherry in the early hours of Thursday, bringing heavy rains to the union territory and neighbouring Tamil Nadu, India Meteorological Department (IMD) officials said.

Nivar weakened into a severe cyclonic storm after it crossed coast near Puducherry, the IMD said.

There were no reports of loss of life due to the cyclone which uprooted trees. Incidents of wall collapse were reported from some parts of Tamil Nadu, state Revenue Minister R B Udhayakumar said.

Earlier, the IMD had said Nivar will cross coast near Puducherry with a wind speed of 120-130 kmph, gusting up to 145 kmph. The landfall of Nivar began late on Wednesday night.

The National Disaster Response Force has deployed 30 teams on the ground in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Andhra Pradesh as the cyclone moves ahead from the Bay of Bengal towards the coastal areas.

WATCH: Frightening Visuals Flood Social Media

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K. Palaniswami earlier on Tuesday said that relief camps have been set up and other necessary measures taken in view of Cyclone Nivar which is expected to cross Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coasts between Mamallapuram and Karaikal on Wednesday late evening.

Palaniswami, meanwhile, declared Thursday a public holiday for 13 districts including Chennai, Vellore, Cuddalore, Villupuram, Nagapattinam, Tiruvarur, Chengelpet and Kancheepuram considering the safety of people in view of the cyclone. Wednesday has already been declared a holiday.

Nearly 1,200 National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) rescue personnel have been deployed in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Puducherry and 800 others are on standby. SN Pradhan said they are prepared for a "high level of intensity and the worst form" of the cyclonic storm as it surges from the Bay of Bengal towards the southern coastline.

In view of Cyclone Nivar, Southern Railways has cancelled six pairs of trains scheduled for 26 November and offered full refund. Chennai airport will also remain shut from 7 pm today to 7 am tomorrow.

IMD Director General of Meteorology Mrutyunjay Mohapatra told ANI that the maximum impact of the cyclone will be felt in Puducherry. "Cyclone Nivar is gradually intensifying," he says. "It could cause structural damage, uprooting of trees, damage to thatched/tin houses and damage to banana and paddy crops."

In its latest bulletin, the IMD said Nivar would cross over between Karaikal and Mamallapuram 'during the midnight of November 25 and early hours of 26 November.' The storm, 250 km off Chennai and 190 km and 180 km from Puducherry and Cuddalore respectively is very likely to move northwestwards and cross coasts as a 'very severe cyclonic storm with a wind speed of 120-130 kmph gusting to 145 kmph.'

Under the influence of the cyclone, coastal and north interior Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Kariakal regions are likely to receive rainfall on Wednesday at most places with heavy to very heavy showers at a few places and extremely heavy rains at isolated places.

South coastal Andhra Pradesh is also likely to witness showers at most places today.

A woman sits inside her hut at a flooded street in Chennai, India, Wednesday, Nov.25, 2020. (AP Photo/R. Parthibhan)
A woman sits inside her hut at a flooded street in Chennai, India, Wednesday, Nov.25, 2020. (AP Photo/R. Parthibhan)
Municipal workers remove fallen tree branches from a road during rains before Cyclone Nivar's landfall, in Chennai, India, November 25, 2020. REUTERS/P. Ravikumar
Municipal workers remove fallen tree branches from a road during rains before Cyclone Nivar's landfall, in Chennai, India, November 25, 2020. REUTERS/P. Ravikumar
People run from the Marina beach after sudden heavy rains before Cyclone Nivar's landfall, in Chennai, India, November 25, 2020. REUTERS/P. Ravikumar
People run from the Marina beach after sudden heavy rains before Cyclone Nivar's landfall, in Chennai, India, November 25, 2020. REUTERS/P. Ravikumar
People wade through a flooded street in Chennai, India, Wednesday, Nov.25, 2020. India’s southern state of Tamil Nadu is bracing for Cyclone Nivar that is expected to make landfall on Wednesday. The state authorities have issued an alert and asked people living in low-lying and flood-prone areas to move to safer places. (AP Photo/R. Parthibhan)
People wade through a flooded street in Chennai, India, Wednesday, Nov.25, 2020. India’s southern state of Tamil Nadu is bracing for Cyclone Nivar that is expected to make landfall on Wednesday. The state authorities have issued an alert and asked people living in low-lying and flood-prone areas to move to safer places. (AP Photo/R. Parthibhan)
A man wades through a flooded underpass in Chennai, India, Wednesday, Nov.25, 2020. India’s southern state of Tamil Nadu is bracing for Cyclone Nivar that is expected to make landfall on Wednesday. The state authorities have issued an alert and asked people living in low-lying and flood-prone areas to move to safer places. (AP Photo/R. Parthibhan)
A man wades through a flooded underpass in Chennai, India, Wednesday, Nov.25, 2020. India’s southern state of Tamil Nadu is bracing for Cyclone Nivar that is expected to make landfall on Wednesday. The state authorities have issued an alert and asked people living in low-lying and flood-prone areas to move to safer places. (AP Photo/R. Parthibhan)
A tree that fell collapsing a compound wall in Chennai, India, Wednesday, Nov.25, 2020. India’s southern state of Tamil Nadu is bracing for Cyclone Nivar that is expected to make landfall on Wednesday. The state authorities have issued an alert and asked people living in low-lying and flood-prone areas to move to safer places. (AP Photo/R. Parthibhan)
Waves hit the shore during a high tide at the Kasimedu Harbor on the Bay of Bengal coast in Chennai, India, Wednesday, Nov.25, 2020.
Waves hit the shore during a high tide at the Kasimedu Harbor on the Bay of Bengal coast in Chennai, India, Wednesday, Nov.25, 2020.
People make their way through a flooded underpass in Chennai, India, Wednesday, Nov.25, 2020. (AP Photo/R. Parthibhan)
People make their way through a flooded underpass in Chennai, India, Wednesday, Nov.25, 2020. (AP Photo/R. Parthibhan)
People wade through a flooded street in Chennai, India, Wednesday, Nov.25, 2020. (AP Photo/R. Parthibhan)
People wade through a flooded street in Chennai, India, Wednesday, Nov.25, 2020. (AP Photo/R. Parthibhan)
A man walks along a flooded street under heavy rains in Chennai as cyclone Nivar approaches on November 25, 2020. (Photo by ARUN SANKAR/AFP via Getty Images)
A man walks along a flooded street under heavy rains in Chennai as cyclone Nivar approaches on November 25, 2020. (Photo by ARUN SANKAR/AFP via Getty Images)
Fishermen move their boats as cyclone Nivar approaches in Mahabalipuram. (Photo by ARUN SANKAR/AFP via Getty Images)
Fishermen move their boats as cyclone Nivar approaches in Mahabalipuram. (Photo by ARUN SANKAR/AFP via Getty Images)
Fishermen move their boats as cyclone Nivar approaches. (Photo by ARUN SANKAR/AFP via Getty Images)
Fishermen move their boats as cyclone Nivar approaches. (Photo by ARUN SANKAR/AFP via Getty Images)

Rainfall is expected to continue in many places in these regions Thursday too with heavy rainfall at some places.

Surplus water was released from Chembarambakkam lake, one of the key drinking water sources to the city, since it almost neared its capacity, the government said.

PWD officials said 1000 cusecs was released from the lake as the level stood at 22 feet of the total 24 feet.

Chennai and its suburbs, which received heavy overnight rains, continued to witness intermittent showers coupled with strong winds with low-lying areas getting inundated and water entering houses in such localities.

Civic body officials were involved in clearing the roads of stagnant water. The Tamil Nadu government appealed to people living in coastal districts to not venture out of their homes and requested those living in low lying areas to reach the cyclone shelters in their respective regions.

A yellow alert has been sounded by the IMD in Bengaluru Urban, Bengaluru Rural, Kolar, Chikkaballapur, Tumakuru, Ramanagara, Mandya, Mysuru, and Chamarajanagara districts due to the impact of the cyclone Nivar today and tomorrow.

Pondy experiences moderate rain

As cyclone Nivar approaches, the Puducherry government said the administrative machinery is fully geared up to meet any exigency arising out of the situation.

The union territory has been experiencing since Tuesday night intermittent moderate rain influenced by the cyclonic storm.

She also asked people to move to safer places wherever the is a need.

Prohibitory orders under section 144 CrPC have been clamped in Puducherry region to restrict movement of people.

Here’s a list of emergency numbers for the public during the impact of the Cyclone Nivar. If a person contacts the helpline numbers 100, 101, 112, and 1031, the police control rooms will redirect distress calls to the department concerned.

Puducherry:

For medical support - 104

For ambulance support - 108

Emergency natural disaster relief - 1070 and 1077

For electricity issues - 2339532 or 1800-425-1912

WhatsApp number - 9489080401

Karaikal:

Free helpline numbers - 1070/ 1077

Control Room - 04368 - 228801 227704

WhatsApp number - 99438 06263.

Tamil Nadu Helpline Numbers

People can dial toll free number 1077 for any assistance. Here are the district-wise numbers:

Cuddalore: District Collectorate -04142 220700/233933/221383/221113; Revenue Divisional Office - 04142-231284

Chidambaram: Sub-Collector Office 04144-222256/290037

Vridhachalam: Sub-Collector Office 04143-260248

Tiruvarur: WhatsApp number 93453 36838

Pudukottai: 04322-222207

Chennai Corporation: 04425384530

24X7 control room: 1913

Flood control: 044-24331074

Chennai MetroWater: 04428454040/04445674567

Ambulance service: 108/ 04428888105/ 7338895011

Electricity board

Chennai South-I: 9445850434/04424713988

Chennai South II: 9499050188/ 04423713631

Chengalpet: 9444099437/ 04427522119

Kancheepuram: 9445858740/ 04427282300

Chennai North: 9445850929/ 04428521833

Chennai Central: 9445449217/04428224423

Chennai West: 9445850500/04426151153

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