The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has said they are preparing for the worst as the ‘very severe’ cyclonic storm Nivar is hurtling towards the coast of Tamil Nadu.
“Cyclone Nivar is classified as ‘very severe’. With this perspective, we are preparing for the worst. Our teams have been on the ground for the past two days. So far, 25 teams have been deployed to Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Andhra Pradesh, ”said NDRF director general SN Pradhan, according to the ANI news agency.
“More than 30,000 people have been evacuated from Tamil Nadu and 7,000 from Puducherry. The central, state and local governments are working together. Every effort is being made to minimize the damage, ”he added.
Puducherry’s government said that the administrative machinery is fully prepared to deal with any demands arising from the situation.
Since Tuesday evening, the Union Territory has been experiencing intermittent moderate rains due to the influence of the cyclonic storm, which is 250 km from Chennai, according to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD).
The cyclone is expected to make landfall between Mamallapuram and Karaikal in Tamil Nadu on Wednesday night or early Thursday, according to IMD.
Tamil Nadu’s Chief Minister K Palaniswami declared a holiday in 13 districts on Thursday, including Chennai, Vellore, Cuddalore, Villupuram, Nagapattinam, Tiruvarur, Chengelpet and Kancheepuram, considering people’s safety.
Wednesday has already been declared a holiday.
In its latest weather bulletin, the IMD said the storm, 190 km from Puducherry, is very likely to move northwestward and cross the coasts as a “very severe cyclonic storm with a wind speed of 120-130 km / h with gusts of 145 km / h “.
The southern coast of Andhra Pradesh is also likely to experience rains in most places today.
The Tamil Nadu government appealed to people living in coastal districts not to venture out of their homes and asked those living in low-lying areas to come to cyclone shelters in their respective regions.
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