Cyclonic storm Nivar commenced landfall 30km north of Puducherry and 115km south of Chennai

 

CHENNAI: Cyclonic storm Nivar commenced landfall 30km north of Puducherry and 115km south of Chennai around 11.15pm on Wednesday. The core of the storm which hit close to Marakkanam is expected to take three hours to cross over.

Heavy rain and winds of 120 to 130kmph, gusting to 145kmph, lashed the coastal areas of Puducherry and Cuddalore. Chennai too saw spells of heavy rain and wind.

The weathermen say the effects of the storm, with heavy rain and high winds, will be felt till at least Thursday afternoon. Spells of rain could continue till Friday.
Nearly 1.38 lakh people, including 28,161 children, were evacuated to 1,694 relief centres across Tamil Nadu from low-lying areas and unsafe buildings. “Arrangements have been made to shelter 13 lakh people in 4,733 relief centres,” revenue and disaster management minister R B Udhayakumar said.