The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) announced Thursday morning that Cyclone Nivar would further diminish in strength and become a cyclonic storm in the next three hours.
Cyclone Nivar made landfall near Puducherry in the early hours of Thursday. After reaching land, both Puducherry and Tamil Nadu received episodes of heavy to very heavy rains. Nivar had weakened to a severe cyclonic storm from a very severe cyclonic storm after it crossed union territory, according to IMD.
People flee Marina Beach after the sudden heavy rains before the arrival of Cyclone Nivar, in Chennai. (REUTERS)
Transportation services are still affected in Chennai. Chennai International Airport said on Thursday that services will be closed until Thursday 9 a.m. due to Cyclone Nivar via a tweet.
According to the IMD bulletin, Puducherry received 237mm of rain as of 2:30 am Thursday night. Cuddalore also received 246mm of rain. Chennai and Karaikal received 89mm of rain due to the storm.
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IMD also said that Nivar is currently centered on the north coast of Tamil Nadu and 50 km northwest of Puducherry. He predicted that even though Cyclone Nivar will weaken and become a cyclonic storm, wind speeds can reach 85-95 km / h, with gusts of up to 105 km / h as the cyclone moves northwest. .
Chennai Deputy Director General for Meteorology, S. Balachandran, told PTI that Tamil Nadu would continue to receive rain.
Heavy rains cause waterlogging in the city ahead of Cyclone Nivar in Chennai. ( AND ME )
He said: “The storm is now within the land area. However, there will also be rain and strong winds. “
He also added that the storm will weaken further.
Strong winds in a coastal area before the arrival of Cyclone Nivar, in Mamallapuram. (PTI)
Tamil Nadu Finance Minister RB Udhayakumar expressed his relief that no incidents of loss of life were reported. He told PTI that wall collapse incidents have been reported in some parts of the state. He said: “There is no loss of life due to the rains. People have given us full cooperation. “
More than 2 lakh people have been taken to cyclone shelters before Nivar’s arrival. The minister also said that crops on farmland across the state are safe and there have been no reports of damage to crops.
A man walks in the rain in the port of Kasimedu on the coast of the Bay of Bengal in Chennai. (AP)
Civic authorities, Tamil Nadu police, Puducherry police and NDRF battalions remain stationed in the state to assist in rescue operations.
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