At least 4 killed in Tamil Nadu, Andhra as Nivar crosses coast near Puducherry

Chennai: At least three people were killed in Tamil Nadu, over 1,000 trees uprooted and some low-lying areas marooned due to water-logging following heavy rains on Thursday as severe cyclonic storm Nivar made landfall near Puducherry. Also, heavy to extremely heavy rainfall wrecked havoc to crops in thousands of acres in several districts of Andhra Pradesh and left one person dead, besides damaging the road network.

Another farmer was feared washed away while National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel rescued two others from a reservoir in Chittoor district as parts of the state, including districts bordering Tamil Nadu, were lashed by heavy rains since Wednesday evening.

Subsequently, Nivar weakened into a cyclonic storm and further into a deep depression, centered about 50 km west-southwest of Tirupati at 1430 hrs, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) officials said.

According to IMD, it is to weaken into a depression during the next six hours.

About 2.30 lakh people have been accommodated in relief camps following the cyclone, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami said.

Earlier, heavy rains lashed Tamil Nadu and Puducherry as Nivar made landfall in the early hours,leading to inundation and uprooting of trees.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah tweeted, "We are closely monitoring the situation in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry in the wake of Cyclone Nivar.

Have spoken to CM Shri@EPSTamilNadu and CM Shri @VNarayanasami and assured all possible help from the centre.

NDRF teams already on ground to help people in need."

In Tamil Nadu, three people, including a woman, were killed in rain related incidents such as tree and wall collapses here, nearby Ponneri and Villupuram, authorities said.

Officials said about 1,086 trees were uprooted in Tamil Nadu and almost all of them have been removed. In a few places, overhead electricity cables snapped as heavy trees fell over them and also some vehicles. 

Palaniswami visited cyclone-affected areas and took stock of the damage.

Later, he told reporters that due to adequate precuationary measures taken by the government, there has been no major damage caused by Nivar.

While 4,233 relief camps were ready to accommodate about 13 lakh people, "right now, about 2.30 lakh of them are in 2,999 camps," he said.

The extent of the damage could not be quantified now since the assessment "has just started," he added.

Low lying neighbourhoods in Chennai, including those in suburban Irumbuliyur, Mudichur and Urapakkam witnessed flooding and water entered the houses of many residents.

Rescue personnel ferried cooked food to the people using inflatable boats and while some chose to shift to the homes of their relatives, others continued to stay put battling odds.

In city areas, civic workers pumped out stagnanat waters from several locations.

Meanwhile, the discharge from Chembarambakkam lake in the city was reduced to about 1,500 cusecs from the 5,000 cusecs on Wednesday, when its level stood at 22 feet as against the total 24 ft.

The quantum of discharge is likely to be brought further down to 500 cusecs to maintain the water level in the lake at 22 feet as against its full level of 24 feet, officials said.

In neighbouring Puducherry, which saw heavy rains and inundation in some parts, there were no reports of loss of life due to the cyclone.

Chief Minister V Narayanasamy said there were no reports of loss of lives adding whether boats and nets were damaged or not would be known only later.

The estimated loss to agriculture and other sectors due to cyclone Nivar has been tentatively put at Rs 400 crore and a full assessment is being made, he said, adding, the territorial administration would seek an interim relief of Rs 50 crore from the Centre.

In view of the cyclone, a prohibitory order that was in force in the union territory since November 24 to prevent movement of people and also gathering was lifted on Thursday.