As Cyclone Nivar is expected to make landfall on the eastern coast of Tamil Nadu on Wednesday, heavy rains hit various parts of the state, including Chennai, on Tuesday. As a precautionary measure, the state government declared a holiday on Wednesday.
The cyclone is expected to make landfall between Mamallapuram and Karaikal on November 25 in the late afternoon with a wind speed of up to 145 km / h, according to the Indian Meteorological Department.
The cyclonic storm over the southwest of the Bay of Bengal moved west with a speed of 07 kmph on Tuesday afternoon over the southwest of the Bay of Bengal about 370 km east southeast of Puducherry and 420 km south -Southeast of Chennai. It is likely to intensify further into a severe cyclonic storm over the next 12 hours and a very severe cyclonic storm over the next 12 hours, according to Tuesday’s IMD bulletin.
However, IMD scientists said it was not possible to confirm the exact time and place of landfall until Wednesday morning, when the models will have a clearer picture. “We can say that it could cross the coast anytime between 6 and 8 pm,” said Sunitha Devi, head of cyclones at IMD. A Category Red Warning was issued for extremely heavy rain on the coast and inland of northern Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal on November 25 and for Rayalseema on November 26. “The cyclone has gradually intensified and the wind speed has increased, so the warnings have changed.” said K Sathi Devi, director of the national center for weather forecasting. With 43,409 first responders, various rescue teams and personnel have been deployed, including the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the coast guard. “We have made our moves to prepare for the cyclone. We have to leave it up to nature now and respond, ”said Phanindra Reddy, senior secretary and commissioner of the state department of disaster mitigation and management.
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Although Tamil Nadu has learned lessons from its previous cyclones – Gaja in 2018 and Vardah in 2016 to prepare for heavy rain and wind – this year the state faces an additional challenge from the Covid-19 pandemic. This time, the cyclone relief centers have doubled to 8,813 to accommodate 2.5 lakh people to ensure social distancing. “We didn’t want the relief camps to end up becoming super spreaders,” Reddy said, adding that people will be screened for Covid symptoms in the camps. As of Tuesday night, fewer than 1,000 people had moved there, but authorities are expected to see a larger crowd on Wednesday as the cyclone approaches shore.
Prime Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami announced a public holiday on Wednesday urging people to stay indoors. Essential services will continue to function. “We have taken all precautions so that people are not affected by the cyclone. There is no need to panic, ”he said, after inspecting an emergency control room in Chennai. Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Palaniswami and Puducherry’s Chief Minister V Narayanaswamy on Tuesday and assured them of the Center’s attendance.
In Chennai, officials asked people not to panic at the rising water level in the Chembarambakkam reservoir. The government has issued orders to release Chembarambakkam’s surplus water if it exceeds its storage capacity. The Chembarambakkam overflow had caused the devastating floods in Chennai in 2015. “The situation is under control,” said Greater Chennai Corporation Commissioner G Prakash. The city has opened 80 relief camps with another 80 on hold. Civic workers in Chennai were forced to clear flooded roads as the city received heavy rains since Monday night.
However, authorities were more concerned about the impact of winds that could uproot trees and blow up tin sheets and the roof, which could be fatal if people stay outdoors. District administrations are operating control rooms with emergency numbers for the public to call. The coast guard has placed 15 disaster management teams while two helicopters are on standby. There will be four offshore patrol vehicles to assist the fishermen and in Chennai there are five flood relief teams and a diving team. The southern railways canceled 24 trains, including those connecting Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. Commuter train services have also been suspended since Wednesday until new orders.
Meanwhile, section 144 has been imposed in Puducherry. The administration has also opened a 24×7 control room coordinating with various teams and has established 96 relief camps. “When necessary, they will be moved, we don’t want to unnecessarily create an access point,” said T Arun, a collector from Puducherry, who was confident in his mitigation efforts. “Our only concern is for people to venture out, so we have banned the movement and asked families to stock up,” Arun said.
With input from Jayshree Nandi
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