Cyclone Nivar is expected to turn into a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm, with wind speeds of 145 km per hour, before making landfall between Mahabalipuram in Tamil Nadu and Karaikal in Puducherry on Wednesday. At 12:30 pm on Tuesday, the cyclone was 450 kilometres away from Chennai, and the city has been receiving heavy rainfall since Tuesday morning. Several populated neighbourhoods, including Parrys Corner and Vyasarpadi were flooded. Further, beaches, which have been closed to the public since lockdown, are rough, indicative of the storm that is coming.
Here are some visuals of the city ahead of Cyclone Nivar:
This video was shot on the East Coast Road between Chennai and Mahabalipuram, on Tuesday:
The situation today in Chennai's ECR! #CycloneNivar #NivarCyclone #ChennaiRains pic.twitter.com/f3eO4Y8wS2
— The common voice (@tweetsby_) November 24, 2020
The Kasimedu fishing harbour in Chennai saw high tide and rough waves:
High tide in Kasimedu fishing harbour. #Nivar
— Mugilan Chandrakumar (@Mugilan__C) November 24, 2020
Courtesy - @rrrajeshsmart pic.twitter.com/rRnft15nGv
Visuals on Twitter show a severely flooded Parrys Corner in Chennai:
Severe waterlogged roads already in many parts of Chennai. This is from Parrys, Chennai.
— ChennaiRains (COMK) (@ChennaiRains) November 24, 2020
Exercise caution and step out only if necessary. Rains are gradually expected to pick up here onwards.#chennairains #COMK pic.twitter.com/Tq7r9QWUUW
A flooded main road in Chennai’s Nandanam area:
This is one of the main roads of #Chennai and already flooded.
— Smitha T K (@smitha_tk) November 24, 2020
If illegal construction in low-lying areas, marshlands was not allowed at all, we can be prevent a lot of damage every #monsoon #Nandanam #CycloneNivar #Cyclone #CycloneAlert #flooding pic.twitter.com/GoOxncuvBd
A waterlogged street in Chennai’s Vyasarpadi area:
Water logging started in many low lying areas @ #Chennai
— Dhivya Marunthiah (@DhivCM) November 24, 2020
Picture : Vyasarpadi #CycloneNivar pic.twitter.com/dZpVe6hhlJ
Meanwhile, in Chennai and neighbouring districts, precautionary measures have also been taken for the fisher community, with nets and boats shifted to higher grounds. Fishermen have also been warned to not venture out into the ocean.
#CycloneNivar
— Shreya P Singh (@ShreyaPSinghIAS) November 23, 2020
Fishermen at Mandhavaiputhukuppam prepared to face #NivarCyclone. Boats and nets shifted to higher grounds. All arrangements in place in coastal areas of #Villupuram. Stay safe everyone. pic.twitter.com/OO5CiGlylw
Suburban trains in Chennai have also been cancelled from 10 am on November 25 until further orders. The government has also declared holiday on November 25, Wednesday, with all public offices to remain closed.
#CycloneNivar Chennai suburban train services to stand cancelled from 10 am on Nov 25 till further orders. @thenewsminute @dhanyarajendran @anna_isaac @priyankathiru @PoojaPrasanna4
— Megha Kaveri (@meghakaveri) November 24, 2020
In Pondicherry too, Chief Minister V Narayanasamy reviewed preparations in coastal areas for Cyclone Nivar. All departments are on high alert and arrangements have been made to quickly restore electricity and water.
Puducherry: CM V Narayanasamy reviews preparations in coastal areas as UT braces for #CycloneNivar
— #Stay_Home #Stay_Safe (@imAnkeshanand) November 24, 2020
"All departments are on high-alert & will work in close coordination for restoring electricity, water etc. We're working overtime to ensure that there's no loss of life," he said. pic.twitter.com/jIu7sDpNYv