Atleast five people killed and a few more reportedly injured as the storm weakens in Tamil Nadu. Today, all Andhra Pradesh, Puducherry and Tamil Nadu witnessed heavy rains and winds uproooting electricity poles, trees, huts in respective states.

Cyclone Nivar crossed the Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coast around the Union territory as a severe cyclonic storm between 11.30pm on Wednesday and 2.30am on Thursday with a wind speed of 120-130kmph, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah in a tweet said that he has talked with the Chief Minister of Pondicherry and Tamil Nadu and assured all the support to the states.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">We are closely monitoring the situation in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry in the wake of Cyclone Nivar. Have spoken to CM Shri <a href="https://twitter.com/EPSTamilNadu?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EPSTamilNadu</a> and CM Shri <a href="https://twitter.com/VNarayanasami?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@VNarayanasami</a> and assured all possible help from the centre. NDRF teams already on ground to help people in need.</p>&mdash; Amit Shah (@AmitShah) <a href="https://twitter.com/AmitShah/status/1331829392046059520?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 26, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>&nbsp;

<strong>November 25: Cyclone Nivar Update: Roads blocked, Airport shut, Warship on standby, one lakh people evacuated from Tamil Nadu</strong>

Roads are blocked, Tamil Nadu government declared that they will not take off or land any flights, metro services are suspended ahead of the fall of Cyclone Nivar. The cyclone is very likely to cross Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coasts between Karaikal and Mamallapuram around Puducherry during Wednesday midnight and early hours on Thursday as a very severe cyclonic storm with a wind speed of 120-130 kmph gusting to 145 kmph.
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"Airport operations of domestic and international flights at the Chennai airport have been suspended from 7.00 pm on November 25 to 7.00 am on November 26," Tamil Nadu government announced today.

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Tamil Nadu and Puducherry have also postponed CSIR UGC NET which is scheduled to be held tomorrow.

After 6.00 pm, 5,000 cusecs of water was released from the Chembaramakkam reservoir into the Adyar River, which is an increase from 1,000 cusecs released at noon.

https://indianarrative.com/videos/cyclone-nivar-safety-do-donts-28962.html
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<div>Sand Artist Sudarshan Pattnaik today created a sculpture on Puri sea beach appealing to people to stay safe and not panic.</div>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Prayers for everyone. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CycloneNivar?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CycloneNivar</a> :Do not panic! Have Courage ,let's be prepared to stay safe and help others . One of My SandArt at Puri beach. <a href="https://t.co/KpYCJIoPho">pic.twitter.com/KpYCJIoPho</a></p>
— Sudarsan Pattnaik (@sudarsansand) <a href="https://twitter.com/sudarsansand/status/1331617663575965697?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 25, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p class="p1"><strong>November 24, 2020</strong></p>
<p class="p1">Cyclonic Nivar is expected to hit Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coast today evening and further expected to intensify. According to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), there will be heavy rainfall followed by winds and highly rough sea conditions.</p>
<p class="p1">"SCS NIVAR about 290 km east-southeast of Cuddalore. It is very likely to intensify further into a very severe cyclonic storm during next 12 hours. It is very likely to cross Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coasts during mid-night of 25th and early hours of 26th November," IMD tweeted today morning.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">SCS NIVAR about 290 km east-southeast of Cuddalore. It is very likely to intensify further into a very severe cyclonic storm during next 12 <a href="https://t.co/wU1QHxTKYT">https://t.co/wU1QHxTKYT</a> is very likely to cross Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coasts during mid-night of 25th and early hours of 26th November. <a href="https://t.co/CWe5CFEFZm">pic.twitter.com/CWe5CFEFZm</a></p>
— India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) <a href="https://twitter.com/Indiametdept/status/1331435717214367745?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 25, 2020</a></blockquote>
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This is the second Deep Depression over the Bay of Bengal after Super Cyclone Amphan formed in May. “It (Nivar) is very likely to intensify further into a severe cyclonic storm during the next 24 hours. It is very likely to move west-northwestwards for the next 12 hours and then northwestwards. It is very likely to cross Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coasts between Karaikal and Mamallapuram around Puducherry during November 25, evening as a severe cyclonic storm with a wind speed of 100-110 kmph gusting to 120 kmph,” the IMD said in an official statement today.
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">1) Cyclone "NIVAR" to cross Tamilnadu-Puducherry coasts between Karaikal and Mamallapuram as a very severe cyclonic storm during late evening of 25th November.
2)Depression over Gulf of Aden and adjoining Somalia weakened into a well marked low pressure area. <a href="https://t.co/ZWzqjnbDUB">pic.twitter.com/ZWzqjnbDUB</a></p>
— India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) <a href="https://twitter.com/Indiametdept/status/1331179458951217152?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 24, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Tamil Nadu and Puducherry are taking precautions to reduce the impact of the cyclone and ensuring zero calamity. Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with the Chief Ministers of Tamil Nadu E. Panneerselvam and Puducherry V. Narayanasami to assure help.
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Spoke to Tamil Nadu CM Shri <a href="https://twitter.com/EPSTamilNadu?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EPSTamilNadu</a> and Puducherry CM Shri <a href="https://twitter.com/VNarayanasami?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@VNarayanasami</a> regarding the situation in the wake of Cyclone Nivar. Assured all possible support from the Centre. I pray for the safety and well-being of those living in the affected areas.</p>
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1331105291715407872?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 24, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba chaired a meeting of the National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) to review the status of impending cyclone through video conferencing with the Chief Secretaries of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.

The Cabinet Secretary told the officials that the Committee is aiming at “zero loss of life” and early restoration of normalcy in the affected areas. He has ordered strict implementation of the advisories. Fishermen are not to venture into the sea.

NDRF teams have also been deployed in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Andhra Pradesh.

Meanwhile the Southern Railways has canceled several trains from November 24-26.
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CycloneNivar?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CycloneNivar</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bulletin2SR?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Bulletin2SR</a> 12 pairs of trains services fully cancelled on 25th November 2020 (tomorrow) <a href="https://t.co/EDDIOp7NjA">pic.twitter.com/EDDIOp7NjA</a></p>
— Southern Railway (@GMSRailway) <a href="https://twitter.com/GMSRailway/status/1331187567434219522?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 24, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<strong>What to expect ahead</strong>

Today, the gale wind speed is expected to reach 65-75 kmph to 85 mph over the Bay of Bengal. The speed will increase ups 100-110 kmph tomorrow morning.

“Squally wing speed reaching 30-40 kmph gusting to 50 kmph is prevailing along and off Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and adjoining South Andhra Pradesh coast and over Gulf of Mannar. It will gradually increase and become 100-110 kmph gusting to 120 kmph along &amp; off coastal districts of north Tamil Nadu and Puducherry (Nagapattinam, Karaikal, Myladuthurai, Cuddalore, Puducherry, Villupuram &amp; Chengalpattu districts; 80-90 gusting to 100 kmph very likely over Tiruvarur, Kanchipuram, Chennai, Tiruvallaur districts) during forenoon to night of 25th November 2020,” the IMD said.

<img class=" wp-image-28375 aligncenter" src="https://indianarrative.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Cyclone-Nivar-300×152.png" alt="Cyclone Nivar" width="513" height="260" />

“Gale wind speed reaching 65-75 kmph gusting to 85 kmph very likely over adjoining west-central Bay of Bengal and along &amp; off South Andhra Pradesh (Nellore &amp; Chittoor districts), Gulf of Mannar and along and off districts of south coastal districts of Tamil Nadu during forenoon to night of 25th November 2020,” the IMD added..