Cyclone Nivar weakens into 'severe cyclonic storm' after landfall; heavy rains lash Chennai, Puducherry

Very severe cyclonic storm Nivar has crossed the coast near Puducherry and weakened into a severe cyclonic storm, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Thursday. The cyclonic storm began the landfall process late on Wednesday night. Authorities in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry have taken a slew of measures to handle the situation arising out of the cyclonic storm, which has led to heavy rainfall in several regions. As a precautionary measure, over one lakh people have been taken to safety from coastal areas and power supply disconnected in vulnerable areas.