Cyclone Nivar likely to cross Tamil Nadu, Puducherry on Wednesday evening

Vibha Sharma
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, November 24

Nivar is expected to cross Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coasts between Karaikal and Mamallapuram around Puducherry late on Wednesday as a ‘very severe cyclone’ with a wind speed of 120-130 kmph gusting to 145 kmph, the IMD has said.

The slow moving tropical cyclone has moved westwards with a speed of seven kmph and around 1430 hrs lay centered over southwest Bay of Bengal, about  370 km east-southeast of Puducherry and 420 km south-southeast of Chennai. It is very likely to intensify further into a severe cyclonic storm during next 12 hours and into a very severe cyclonic storm during subsequent 12 hours, the weather office said in its evening bulletin.

“It is very likely to cross Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coasts between Karaikal and Mamallapuram around Puducherry late evening on November 25 as a very severe cyclonic storm with a wind speed of 120-130 kmph gusting to 145 kmph. Earlier today it remained practically stationary over southwest Bay of Bengal about 410 km east-southeast of Puducherry and 450 km southeast of Chennai,” the IMD said.

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According to experts, slow moving cyclones gather more energy as they move towards the land. ‘Super cyclone’ is the highest category of tropical storms, starting as a ‘depression’ and graduating to ‘cyclone/deep depression’, ‘severe cyclone’, ‘very severe cyclone’ and ‘extremely severe cyclone’.

The first ‘super cyclone’ of the century, Amphan, made a landfall in May at the West Bengal–Bangladesh coasts as an ‘extremely severe cyclone’ with a speed of 155-165 kmph gusting to 185 kmph

Tamil Nadu and Puducherry are on high alert. Apart from coastal and north interior Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karakkal, a red alert has also been sounded for heavy to extremely heavy rains in Rayalseema. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spoken to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister  Edappadi K. Palaniswami  and Puducherry Chief Minister  V Narayanasami .

“Spoke to Tamil Nadu CM Shri EPS Tamil Nadu and Puducherry CM Shri V Narayanasami regarding the situation in the wake of Cyclone Nivar. Assured all possible support from the Centre. I pray for the safety and well-being of those living in the affected areas,” the Prime Minister said.

Tidal wave of about 1 to 1.5 meter height above the astronomical tide is very likely to inundate the low lying areas of north coastal districts of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry near the place of landfall.

Damage is expected over Nagapattinam, Myladuthurai, Cuddalore , Villupuram and Chengalpattu districts of Tamil Nadu and Karaikal and Puducherry, the IMD said.  It includes total destruction of thatched houses/ extensive damage to kutcha houses and some damage to old pucca houses.

There is potential threat from flying objects and bending/ uprooting of power and communication poles. Widespread damage is also expected to standing crops, plantations, orchards in Tamil Nadu and parts of adjoining Andhra Pradesh, the IMD said.