New Delhi: Cyclone Nivar, which will likely become a "very severe cyclonic storm", is expected to make landfall this evening between Mamallapuram in Tamil Nadu (which is around 56 km from the state capital Chennai) and Karaikal in Puducherry. Nivar will bring extremely heavy rainfall and winds between 120 and 130 km per hour, with gusts of up to 145 km per hour, the Regional Meteorological Centre in Chennai has advised, adding that coastal areas could receive heavy rains till Thursday. The Puducherry Chief Minister spoke to NDTV on Tuesday and said large gatherings had been banned and public movement prohibited from 9 PM to 6 AM Thursday. He also said non-essential shops and services had been shut; only milk booths, fuel stations, hospitals and pharmacies, and government offices will be allowed to open.

Around 1,200 National Disaster Response Force personnel have been deployed in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and neighbouring Andhra Pradesh as well, NDRF chief SN Pradhan told PTI. 12 teams are in Tamil Nadu (six in Cuddalore district and two in Chennai), seven in Andhra Pradesh and three in Puducherry. An additional 20 teams will be on standby in Odisha`s Cuttack, Vijaywada in Andhra Pradesh and Thrissur in Kerala.

Cyclone Nivar, Weather Forecast November 23, 24 Highlights: The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) on Wednesday said the severe cyclonic storm Nivar over southwest Bay of Bengal moved west-northwestwards with a speed of 6 kmph during past six hours and lay centred at 0230 hrs IST over southwest Bay of Bengal. It is very likely to move west-northwestwards for the next six hours and then northwestwards. It added that Cyclone Nivar is very likely to intensify further into a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm during the next 12 hours. It is expected to cross Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coasts between Karaikal and Mamallapuram during November 25 late evening as a very severe cyclonic storm with a wind speed of 120-130 kmph gusting to 145 kmph

Almost 1,200 National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) rescue personnel have been deployed in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Puducherry and 800 others are on standby in view of cyclone Nivar, the “very severe cyclonic storm” which is expected to make landfall Wednesday evening. NDRF chief S N Pradhan told PTI that they are prepared for a “high level of intensity and the worst form” of the cyclonic storm as it surges from the Bay of Bengal towards the southern coastline. The National Crisis Management Committee Tuesday took stock of the status of the storm and assured the affected states of all possible help, including the early release of disaster relief fund. The chief secretaries of the three states, directors general of India Meteorological Department and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) briefed the NCMC about their preparedness.

The Tamil Nadu government has declared a public holiday on Wednesday as the state braces for the cross over of Cyclone Nivar late in the evening on November 25. As per the government order, only essential services will continue to operate tomorrow.

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