Nivar cyclone causes devastation in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and

Chennai: The Nivar cyclone, which hit the southern coastline, has caused devastation in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Puducherry. The damages have not been assessed till now. Three people in Tamil Nadu and one in Andhra Pradesh have died in the calamity. Fortunately, a huge number of residents from the coastal areas had been moved to safer places preventing mass casualties. Although the cyclone has subsided now, there is a possibility of incessant rains in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Puducherry for the next two days, due to the atmospheric conditions, developing due to the cyclone. The weather bureau has said that the mercury will slip further in Delhi, Rajasthan and other parts of northern India.

It is predicted that Nivar cyclone will be one of the 10 strongest cyclones, that have hit the Indian coasts since 1999. The cyclone hit the Puducherry coastline on Wednesday, in the night. Before this, heavy rains had started in Puducherry, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. The possibility of wind speeds of 145 Kilometres Per Hour (KPH) had also been predicted. But fortunately, the cyclone weakened while nearing the coast. Still, many houses were damaged and trees were uprooted, in the states of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Puducherry, because of the wind speeds of 100 to 120 KPH. Electric poles also collapsed.

There was waterlogging up to three to four feet in most of Puducherry. 237 mm of rains was recorded in Puducherry. Tamil Nadu recorded 227 mm of rain. There were heavy rains in the lake, river and dam areas. More than 60 mm of rains were recorded at 164 locations in Andhra Pradesh, during the cyclone. The maximum rain, 144 mm, in Andhra Pradesh, was reported from the Sabepalli district. It continues to shower in these states. Heavy rains have been reported even from Karnataka.

As per the forecast made by the weather department, southern India will experience heavy rains for the next two days. There is a possibility of heavy rains in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. The weather department has said that there will be mild rains in the northeastern states of Mizoram and Tripura. There is a possibility of the mercury slipping in the northern states. Currently, there is snowfall in Kashmir and Himalayan sector. This has aggravated the winter in north India. As per the prediction, this winter will increase further.

Meanwhile, Home Minister Amit Shah said that he is keeping a watch on the cyclone situation and is in constant contact with the governments of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Puducherry.