The extremely harsh cyclone storm Nivar, crossed the Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coast late night and early Thursday morning with an assessed wind speed of 120-130 kph, said the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
On its way, the cyclone uprooted many trees and power lines in Tamil Nadu’s Cuddalore, Marakkanam and in Puducherry.
The power supply in many regions was disrupted. The concerned administration was removing the fallen trees.
In Puducherry too the power supply was disrupted.
Puducherry Chief Minister V.Narayanasamy said to a news channel that power supply will be restored in a phased way on Thursday itself.
He stated that a large number of trees have fallen because of the cyclone and rain in continuing.
Narayanasamy said low-lying territories were inundated and work was in progress to drain the water. Fallen trees were removed. “Power supply was disrupted and it will be soon restored in a phased manner in 12 hours”, he stated.
As regards the cyclone damage to property and lives, Narayanasamy said the assessment will be made and by this evening, an estimate of damage will be known.
He said eighty relief camps have been set up in Puducherry. Camps have additionally been set up in Karaikal.
Narayanasamy stated: “By God’s grace, people of Puducherry escaped the fury of Nivar.”
He furthermore examined the cyclone damaged regions and asked individuals to remain inside and fishermen not to venture into the seas.
In Tamil Nadu’s Villupuram district, police stated the fallen trees have been removed to help the flow of traffic.
Additionally, the officials of power utility were likewise on the task to restore power supply at any place it got disrupted because of the cyclone.
At Marakkanam close to Puducherry, many power poles fell down and the fishermen community asked the Tamil Nadu government to restore the power lines as soon as possible.
As per the weather division, the cyclone lays centred over coastal Tamil Nadu and Puducherry about 25km north of Puducherry with the wind blowing at a speed of 90-100 kph gusting to 110 kph.
In the suburbs of Tamil Nadu capital Chennai, water got logged because of downpours impacting the residents as well as traffic flow.
Nivar will travel north-westwards and weaken further into a cyclonic storm throughout the following three hours, the IMD stated.
The cyclone started its landfall on Wednesday night about 10.30 p.m. subsequent to moving at a speed of 16 kph for six hours.
In an early-morning tweet, Puducherry’s Lieutenant Governor Kiran Bedi stated: “Good #MorningNutrition. Puducherry has faced the Cyclone, collectively and resolutely. Making us a stronger and more experienced team.”
Even after landfall, the cyclone was probably going to keep up its intensity for around six hours and weaken gradually.
The sea along the coast was very harsh with gigantic waves were hitting the shores.
The Puducherry government also has declared Thursday as a public holiday.
25 teams from National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been sent on the coastal regions of Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Andhra Pradesh.
