Puducherry authorities imposed ban orders and said only dairy, gas stations and pharmacies will be allowed to operate as Cyclone Nivar is expected to cross the shores of Tamil Nadu and Union territory and make landfall on Wednesday for the night like a severe cyclonic storm. Puducherry District Magistrate Purva Garg ordered the enforcement of Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code from 9 pm Tuesday to 6 am Thursday across the Puducherry region in the wake of Cyclone Nivar.
Garg said in the order that “with a view to preventing danger to life and human safety, it hereby prohibits the presence or movement of one or more persons in public places throughout the Puducherry region and the closure of all stores and establishments from 11-24-2020 9.00 PM to 11-26-2020 6.00 AM, subject to additional review ”. “This order will not apply to government agencies / officials involved in law enforcement and cyclonic duty and order. The maintenance of essential services such as the milk stall, fuel litter, pharmacies and health services is allowed to continue, ”said his order.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday that he spoke with top ministers of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry and secured all possible support from the Center in light of severe cyclonic storm Nivar. “I spoke with Tamil Nadu CM Edappadi K Palaniswami and Puducherry CM V. Narayanasamy about the situation in the wake of #CycloneNivar. Ensured all possible support from the Center. I pray for the safety and well-being of those living in the affected areas, “tweeted Prime Minister Modi.
Read also | Heavy rains, hurricane-force winds: Nivar will cross the Tamil Nadu coast tomorrow
Puducherry Prime Minister V Narayanasamy also said Tuesday that he had informed the prime minister of all precautionary measures taken by his government to deal with the cyclone. Narayanasamy said all commercial establishments have been asked to close later in the evening and remove billboards from skyscrapers. Government employees have been instructed not to take advantage of the leave and to be in their offices to respond to calls for help and emergency control rooms have been established in all departments.
A team from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) from Arkonam in neighboring Tamil Nadu arrived in Puducherry on Tuesday, while another team was deployed to Karaikal to carry out the rescue work, PTI reported. All schools that were asked to remain open for public examinations were instructed to remain closed on Tuesday and Wednesday due to bad weather.
Read also | Cyclone Nivar is heading towards the south coast: list of major cyclones in India since 2019
Puducherry and its suburbs have experienced drizzle since Monday night and there was a respite from the rain Tuesday morning. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Tuesday that the deep depression over the southwestern Bay of Bengal has strengthened into a cyclonic storm Nivar and loomed 450 kilometers southeast of Chennai.
Cyclone Nivar is expected to cross the coasts of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry and make landfall between Mamallapuram and Karaikal on Thursday night as a severe cyclonic storm with a wind speed of 100-110 km / h with gusts of 120 km / h .
(With contributions from the agency)
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