At least three people were killed and three others injured in Tamil Nadu when Cyclone Nivar hit the southern state and Puducherry early Thursday, uprooting trees and power lines, authorities said, according to the ANI news agency. Cyclone Nivar crossed the coast of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry around the Union territory as a severe cyclonic storm between 11.30 p.m. Wednesday and 2.30 a.m. Thursday with a wind speed of 120-130 km / h, the department said. India Weather (IMD).
“There have been three deaths and three people have been injured. One hundred and one shacks were damaged and 380 fallen trees were removed. There is a complete restoration of essential services, ”said ANI, Atulya Mishra, Additional Chief Secretary of Tamil Nadu.
IMD said that the very severe cyclonic storm Nivar over the southwest of the Bay of Bengal moved west-northwest with a speed of 9 km / h for the last six hours and crossed the coasts of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry near Puducherry from 11:30 pm on Wednesday night until 2:30 am on Thursday as a very severe cyclonic storm with an estimated wind speed of 120-130 km / h with gusts of 145 km / h.
“It weakened into a severe cyclonic storm with a wind speed of 100-110 kmph with gusts of 120 kmph and centered at 2:30 am on November 26 over the coast of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, near Puducherry. . The severe cyclonic storm ‘NIVAR’ would continue to move northwestward and further weaken into a cyclonic storm over the next six hours, “he added.
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Union Interior Minister Amit Shah spoke with the top ministers of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry on Thursday and assured them of all possible help from the Center. Shah said the central government is closely monitoring the situation in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry after the cyclone made landfall and that National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel are on the ground to help those in need.
“We are closely monitoring the situation in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry after Cyclone Nivar. I have spoken with CM Shri @EPSTamilNadu and CM Shri @VNarayanasami and have secured all possible help from the center. NDRF teams are already on the ground to help people in need, ”Shah tweeted.
Flooded streets
The cyclone uprooted trees in various areas of Chennai even as incidents of wall collapse were reported in parts of the state. In Puducherry, heavy rain and wind uprooted trees, damaged power poles and several areas were flooded. So far, no victims have been reported from any part of the Union territory.
Heavy rains caused by the storm caused flooding in some streets in Chennai and people were seen walking in knee-deep water on some streets in the south of the capital of Tamil Nadu, which has many low-lying areas. Civic body officials said on Twitter that local administration workers have been working to remove downed trees and power lines.
Some residents in southern Chennai had parked their cars on a bridge for fear of flooding. Tens of thousands of people were evacuated from low-lying areas of Tamil Nadu before the storm made landfall.
Puducherry Prime Minister V Narayanasamy visited different areas of the Union territory to assess the damage caused by Cyclone Nivar. Narayanasamy said no loss of life has been reported in Puducherry from the cyclone. NDRF staff cleared uprooted trees in the Kamaraj Nagar area to make way for the public. “23-centimeter heavy rains were observed in 24 hours. No report of loss of life. We have never seen such torrential rains here. Electricity in the city will be restored in 12 hours, ”Narayanasamy said, according to ANI.
(With contributions from the agency)
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