Cyclone Nivar Latest Updates Live: Landfall process starts; over one lakh people evacuated across Tamil Nadu

Centre of cyclone Nivar to cross coast near Puducherry within next 3 hours

Centre of cyclone to cross coast near Puducherry within next 3 hours with wind speed of 120-130 kmph gusting to 145 kmph

Landfall process commences

The landfall process of severe cyclonic storm Nivar has started, said S Balachandran, IMD Chennai as quoted by ANI.

Latest position of cyclone Nivar

Severe thunderstorm with heavy rain likely to occur over Ariyalur, Cuddalore, Kancheepuram, Kallakurichi, Thiruvannamalai, Viluppuram, Nagapattinam, Mayiladuthurai, districts of Tamil Nadu & Puducherry and Karaikal area within next three hours, according to IMD

The Chennai international airport has been closed till 7 AM on Thursday amid bad weather conditions caused by Cyclone Nivar, the Civil Aviation Ministry said.

Cyclone Nivar landfall

Indian Air Force has set up a disaster management unit with 10 helicopters on standby in Puducherry to help the rescue teams in reaching the regions swiftly.

Experts say the effect of the storm may last anywhere between 12 and 18 hours depending on its movement over the land.

Cyclone Nivar at 80km east southeast of Cuddalore, 85km east southeast of Puducherry and 160km south southeast of Chennai, as of 8.30pm.

1.38 lakh people, including 28,161 children, evacuated to 1,694 relief centres in the state until 8.30pm, said TN government

Rain lashes Puducherry

Joint CSIR UGC NET exam scheduled to be held on Thursday have been postponed in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry due to cyclone Nivar, TOI Chennai said in a Tweet.

Chromepet government hospital's wards flooded

Railways cancel over a dozen special trains for November 25 and 26 scheduled to either originate from or terminate in southern states in view of cyclone Nivar, as per PTI.

More visuals from Tamil Nadu

Chennai's Marina Beach hit with strong winds

Cyclone Nivar may make landfall after 2 am on November 26, while over one lakh people have been evacuated across Tamil Nadu, said NDRF Director-General SN Pradhan

Cyclone Nivar may intensify into a severe cyclonic storm and is likely to make landfall between Karaikal and Mamallapuram starting from Wednesday night to early hours of Thursday.

Hundreds of people in low lying areas in southern Chennai evacuated and more than 150 relief centres on standby ahead of a very severe cyclonic storm, according to government officials.

NLC India Ltd on Wednesday said it has taken all precautionary measures at its facilities and ensured preparedness in sectors, including mining and power generation, in view of cyclone Nivar all set to cross the Eastern coast.

Statewide public holiday to continue till Nov 26 in 13 districts of Tamil Nadu including Chennai, Vellore, Cuddalore, Viluppuram, Nagapattinam, Thiruvarur, Chengalpattu, and Perambalore.

Aircraft operations at Chennai Airport to remain suspended from 7 pm today (Wednesday) to 7 am tomorrow.

Strong winds blow in Mamallapuram, Tamil Nadu

Due to cyclone Nivar and heavy rains, all major routes across different zones in Chennai are being closed until further notice, the Greater Chennai Traffic Police said in a Tweet.

As cyclone Nivar approaches, the Puducherry government said the administrative machinery is fully geared up to meet any exigency arising out of the situation. The union territory has been experiencing since Tuesday night intermittent moderate rain influenced by the cyclonic storm.

Ahead of Cyclone Nivar, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami on Wednesday visited Chembarambakkam lake to review the ground situation.

Over 30,000 evacuated from Tamil Nadu

As cyclone Nivar approaches, the Puducherry government said the administrative machinery is fully geared up to meet any exigency arising out of the situation.

Cyclone Nivar is categorised as 'very severe'. With this perspective we're preparing for the worst. Our teams have been on the ground for the last 2 days. Till now 25 teams deployed through Tamil Nadu & Puducherry & Andhra Pradesh.

- SN Pradhan, DG, National Disaster Response Force

Rains have started lashing the south coastal Andhra Pradesh and Rayalaseema under the influence of severe cyclone Nivar

Indian Coast Guard vessel deployed

Tamil Nadu Disaster Management Authority has said high waves, in the range of 4 to 7 meters, are forecast from 2.30 pm on Wednesday to 11.30 pm on Thursday off Northern Tamil Nadu coast -- from Kodiakkarai to Pulicat.

Many trains cancelled, Railways to give full refund on fully cancelled ones

Cyclone Nivar is currently stationed at 300km southeast of Chennai, 250km east and southeast of Puducherry and 240km from Cuddalore, according to the latest update from RMC.

Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa on Wednesday said that he had directed concerned officials to take necessary measures to control effects of Cyclone Nivar. Speaking to reporters in Mysuru, he said,"It is not possible to stop the cyclone but, we can take measures to control its effect."

IMD update: Severe cyclone Nivar, as of 11.30am, was at 180km from Çuddalore, 190km from Puducherry and 250km from Chennai. Likely to intensify into a very severe cyclonic storm in less than six hours. Storm moving at 11kmph. Landfall likely from midnight to early Thursday morning.

14 Indian Army teams have arrived in Chennai and Trichy for relief operations. Each group consists of 10 soldiers.

Chennai rain update: People barred from coastal areas

We've cancelled programmes under Vetrivel Yatra which started on November 6, at Nagapattinam, Thiruvarur & two other places today. Remaining programmes have been postponed & yatra will culminate on December 5 at Thiruchendur

- L Murugan, Tamil Nadu BJP chief

The Tamil Nadu government has put 8 choppers on standby for rescue operations. People are being urged to vacate the vulnerable areas.

People have been advised to stay indoors. People living in low-lying areas should go to safer places. 80 centers have been identified where food and medicines are being provided. We shall restore electricity within 12 hours.

- V Narayanasamy, Puducherry Chief Minister

Relief Centres

27 trains from Chennai to other districts including Trichy, Madurai, Kanyakumari, Tanjore and Coimbatore will be canceled tomorrow.

Advisory as water is released from Chembarambakkam lake

13 districts in Tamil Nadu declared Public holiday tomorrow.

Two trains cancelled for today, three for tomorrow, and one for 28th November. Five trains partially cancelled: Southern Railways

Pondicherry Assistance Numbers

The Met Dept, in its latest release, said that scattered heavy to very heavy rain is likely to occur in Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Cuddalore, Chennai, Kanchipuram, Chengalpattu, Myladuthirai, Ariyalur, Perambalur, Kallakurchi, Villupuram, Tiruvannamalai districts of Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal.

Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy to visit Kanagachettikulam area near Kalapet to review preparations ahead of the cyclone’s expected landfall.

15 Indian Coast Guard Disaster Relief Teams are ready for deployment at Chennai, Puducherry, Karaikal and Mandapam.

With cyclone Nivar triggering heavy rain, the Tamil Nadu government has shifted 24,166 people, including 3,948 children, from low lying areas and unsafe buildings to 987 relief centres in the state.

Cyclone Nivar gradually intensifying. It could cause structural damage, uprooting of trees, damage to thatched/tin houses, & damage to banana & paddy crops. There'll be strong winds & heavy rain. The most impact will be in Puducherry & Karaikal

- Dr Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, DG, IMD

Cyclone Warning for Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coasts

The public works department on Wednesday noon started to release water from the Chembarambakkam reservoir at the rate of 1,000 cusecs (cubic feet per second) as Chennai and surrounding areas received heavy rain due to cyclone Nivar.

Indian Army ready to assist the government and the civil administration

Coastal watch

Chief Minister K Palaniswami to visit Chembarambakkam reservoir today.

The south coastal AP, Rayalaseema and Telangana have been on high alert for the bad weather conditions today as the cyclone to make landfall early on Thursday.