Cyclone Nivar updates: '1200 rescue troopers deployed, 800 on standby'; TN declares public holiday

Due to Cyclone Nivar, IndiGo flights to or from in the southern region, mainly Chennai, have been disrupted. 49 flights that were scheduled for tomorrow have been cancelled. We will monitor the situation and decide on the further course of action for November 26: IndiGo statement

Tamil Nadu Health is geared up for providing emergency medical services during Cyclone Nivar. Medicines are stocked up at the PHC level, also ensuring Oxygen availability at all govt hospitals. Also, the hospital on wheels service is made available for any medical emergency: Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Tamil Nadu, Dr C Vijayabaskar

Cyclone Nivar over southwest Bay of Bengal moved westwards about 320 km east-southeast of Cuddalore, about 350 km southeast of Puducherry & 410 km east southeast of Chennai. It is very likely to intensify further into a severe cyclonic storm during next 6 hours: IMD

Chennai recorded heavy rainfall between 8:30 am and 5:30 pm today. Nungambakkam in Chennai received 96 mm and Meenambakkam witnessed 86 mm rainfall: India Meteorological Department (IMD)

Tamil Nadu: In connection with Cyclone Nivar, metro train services will run with Holiday Train services timetable tomorrow with service hours from 7 am to 10 pm with the headway of every 10 minutes, says Chennai Metro.

Cyclone Nivar is making its presence felt in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and parts of Andhra Pradesh. Please follow all safety measures. I appeal to all Congress workers to provide assistance to those in need: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi

#CycloneNivar

▪️Fishing activities suspended
▪️Judicious regulation of rail, road & air traffic
▪️22 @NDRFHQ teams deployed across districts expected to be affected, 8 teams on standby

Request people in affected areas to follow Govt advisories & stay inside

— Dr Harsh Vardhan (@drharshvardhan) November 24, 2020

Fishing activities suspended. Judicious regulation of rail, road & air traffic, 22 NDRF teams deployed across districts expected to be affected, 8 teams on standby. Request people in affected areas to follow Govt advisories & stay inside: Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare, Dr Harsh Vardhan

12 teams positioned in Tamil Nadu, 2 teams in Puducherry & 1 team in Karaikal. 3 teams positioned in Nellore & 1 team in Chittoor. 3 teams pre-positioned in Vizag. Total 22 teams available on the ground & 8 teams on standby. Total 30 teams committed: DG NDRF

Tamil Nadu CM Edappadi K Palaniswami declares statewide public holiday tomorrow as Cyclone Nivar is expected to cross Tamil Nadu-Puducherry coasts between Karaikal and Mamallapuram during late evening

Tamil Nadu CM Edappadi K Palaniswami declares statewide public holiday tomorrow as Cyclone Nivar is expected to cross Tamil Nadu-Puducherry coasts between Karaikal and Mamallapuram during late evening

People living in low lying vulnerable areas asked to shift to cyclone shelters. In every block/panchayat, zonal teams positioned which can be mobilised clearing of roads, setting up of electricity poles etc: Disaster Monitoring Zonal Officer, Cuddalore, Tamil Nadu

5 flood relief teams & a diving team ready for deployment at Chennai. One flood relief team each on standby at Naval Detachment Nagapattinam, Rameswaram & air station INS Parundu. INS Jyoti deployed with HADR brick& diving teams along Tamil Nadu & Puducherry coast: Indian Navy

People living in low lying vulnerable areas asked to shift to cyclone shelters. In every block/panchayat, zonal teams positioned which can be mobilised clearing of roads, setting up of electricity poles etc: Disaster Monitoring Zonal Officer, Cuddalore, Tamil Nadu

Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh YS Jagan Mohan Reddy today held a virtual meeting with the Collectors of Chittoor, Kadapa, Kurnool, Anantapuramu, Nellore and Prakasam districts over Cyclone Nivar.

Cyclone Nivar to cross Tamil Nadu-Puducherry coasts between Karaikal and Mamallapuram as a very severe cyclonic storm during late evening of 25th November: India Meteorological Department

NDRF team visited vulnerable areas along with Thiru P Nagrajan, IGP North Zone, Tamil Nadu and briefed the IPS officer about NDRF preparedness in Chidambaram, Cuddalore district.

The Kalpakkam complex about 70 km from here houses various nuclear facilities of IGCAR, NPCIL, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) and the fast breeder reactor company Bharatiya Nabhikiya Vidyut Nigam Ltd (Bhavini).

Madras Atomic Power Station in Kalpakkam, around 70km away from Chennai, is bracing itself to face cyclone Nivar. In a statement, MAPS said it activated cyclone protection machinery at the plant.

Due to very rough sea, fishing operations have been totally suspended. Coastal hutment dwellers are being moved to safer places and people in affected areas have ben advised to remain indoors. The administration has said that movement in motorboats is unsafe.

#WATCH: Visuals from Gandhi Beach in Puducherry as strong winds hit the region, sea turns rough. #NivarCyclone is very likely to cross Tamil Nadu & Puducherry coasts between Karaikal & Mamallapuram on the evening of 25th November, as per IMD. pic.twitter.com/hFXEBlpOXA

— ANI (@ANI) November 24, 2020

WATCH: Visuals from Gandhi Beach in Puducherry as strong winds hit the region, sea turns rough. Nivar Cyclone is very likely to cross Tamil Nadu & Puducherry coasts between Karaikal & Mamallapuram on the evening of 25th November, as per IMD.

“Under the influence of the Nivar cyclone, the rainfall activity is likely to prevail till November 27. The coastal districts have already started to experience downpour and the intensity of the rainfall will gradually increase,” he added. The Met official said that extremely heavy rainfall is expected in Cuddalore, Ariyalur Kadalur, Kallakurchi, Puducherry, Tiruvannamalai.

“At present the cyclonic storm is practically stationary and is likely to intensify into a severe cyclonic storm and move towards Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coasts and pass Karaikal and Mamallapuram around Puducherry in the evening of November 25 with a wind speed of 100-110 kmph gusting to 120 kmph,” Balachandran said.

Director-General of Regional Meteorological Centre of Chennai, S Balachandran, briefed on the situation prevailing due to Cyclone Nivar.

The IMD has forecast heavy to extremely heavy rainfall over parts of Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal today. Heavy rainfall at isolated places is expected in coastal Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

Frontline departments in Andhra Pradesh have been are getting into a high alert mode as widespread rains are forecast in many districts in coastal and Rayalaseema regions of the state in the next three days under the influence of cyclonic storm Nivar.

A deep depression in the Bay of Bengal is turning into a cyclone and may cross the coast between north Tamil Nadu and south Andhra tomorrow (November 25), the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.