https://ift.tt/eA8V8J
Vibha Sharma
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, November 25
Cyclone Nivar is still some hours away from landfall. It is likely to move northwest and cross Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coasts between Karaikal and Mamallapuram around Puducherry during midnight on Wednesday or early hours of November 26 as a very severe cyclonic storm, the IMD said in its latest bulletin.
The severe cyclonic storm over southwest Bay of Bengal has moved west-northwest with a speed of 7 kmph during past six hours and lay centred at 0530 hours on Wednesday over southwest Bay of Bengal about 290 km east-southeast of Cuddalore, about 300 km east- southeast of Puducherry and 350 km south-southeast of Chennai. It is very likely to intensify further into a very severe cyclonic storm during the next 12 hours, as per the IMD.
Nivar is expected to make the landfall as a 'very severe cyclone' with a wind speed of 120-130 kmph gusting to 145 kmph, the IMD has said.
It is moving slowly and according to experts, slow-moving cyclones gather more energy as they move towards the land. 'Super cyclone' is the highest category of tropical storms, starting with a 'depression' and graduating to 'cyclone/deep depression', 'severe cyclone', 'very severe cyclone' and 'extremely severe cyclone'.
The first 'super cyclone' of the century, Amphan, made a landfall in May at the West Bengalndash;Bangladesh coasts as an 'extremely severe cyclone' with a speed of 155-165 kmph gusting to 185 kmph.
Tamil Nadu and Puducherry are on high alert. Apart from coastal and north-interior Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karakkal, a red alert has also been sounded for heavy to extremely heavy rains in Rayalseema.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spoken to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister EK Palaniswami and Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasami, assuring all help.
Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba told a National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) meeting with Chief Secretaries of Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Andhra Pradesh and Secretaries of different ministries on Tuesday that the aim should be to ensure that there is no loss of life, damage is minimum and normalcy is restored in power, telecom and other important sectors in shortest possible time.
The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has deployed rescue personnel in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Puducherry. DG, NDRF, talked about the preparedness to meet the situation in next three days and said that 30 teams of NDRF had so far been deployed and 20 additional teams had been kept on standby for Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Andhra Pradesh.
Fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea and the people in coastal areas are also being evacuated to shelter houses. The Cabinet Secretary assured all necessary Central assistance to the state governments to overcome the situation.
Tidal wave of about 1 to 1.5 metre height above the astronomical tide is very likely to inundate the low-lying areas of north coastal districts of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry near the place of landfall. Damage is expected over Nagapattinam, Myladuthurai, Cuddalore Villupuram and Chengalpattu districts of Tamil Nadu and Karaikal and Puducherry, the IMD said.
It includes total destruction of thatched houses/extensive damage to kutcha houses and some damage to old pucca houses.
There is potential threat from flying objects and bending/uprooting of power and communication poles. Widespread damage is also expected to standing crops, plantations, orchards in Tamil Nadu and parts of adjoining Andhra Pradesh, the IMD said.
from The Tribune https://ift.tt/2UY1uxR
via IFTTT
No comments:
Post a Comment