New Delhi (NVI): Heavy rains inundated Chennai as Cyclone Nivar intensified, which the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has described as a ‘very severe cyclonic storm’, and is expected to make landfall later today or early tomorrow.
The shutters of the Chembarambakkam reservoir in Chennai were opened up today to let out a 1,000 cusecs of water amid heavy rainfall in Chennai.
The landfall is expected to happen between Karaikal in Puducherry and Mamallapuram in Tamil Nadu. Thus, Puducherry, and parts of Tamil Nadu and southern Andhra Pradesh are expected to witness heavy rainfall through the day.
The wind speed is expected to be between 120-130 kilometres per hour gusting to 145 kmph.
IMD has said that strong winds could cause structural damage to houses, uprooting of trees, and damage crops.
Furthermore, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has deployed at least 30 teams across Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Andhra Pradesh and 20 more teams are on standby for immediate deployment. A team of NDRF comprises about 40 personnel.
Ahead of the landfall. schools in Puducherry were granted three days leave by the administration.
In addition to this, a total of 26 flights have been cancelled from Chennai airport.
Notably, Nivar is the second cyclone in the Bay of Bengal this year. In May, Cyclone Amphan had developed into a ‘super cyclonic storm’.
-CHK
