India Meteorological Department, IMD today said that Cyclone Nivar is presently concentrated at 370 Kilometer East Southeastwards of Puducherry. It is expected to move West-North Westwards for next 12 hours and then North Westwards to cross Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coasts between Karaikal and Mamallapuram.

Addressing media, IMD Director General Dr M Mohapatra said that the Cyclone is likely to intensify into a severe cycloic storm by tonight and tomorrow morning into a very severe cyclonic storm. He said, Cyclone Nivar was formed at a Low Pressure area of Eastern Indian Ocean and South East Bay of Bengal on 21st of November and further developed into low pressure area on 22nd  November and then developed into a depression yesterday and  into a cyclonic storm in the early hours today.

Director General of National Disaster Response Force-NDRF, S N Pradhan said that it is keeping a 24 hour close watch on Cyclone Nivar and is coordinating with Tamil Nadu Puducherry and Andhra Pradesh. He said, NDRF teams are also available there. He said, in view of the current COVID scenario, NDRF is well equipped with appropriate kits and it will take all the precautions and work according to a proper protocol.

Our correspondent reports that all steps are being taken to meet the challenge of cyclone “Nivar” which is likely to cross Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coasts between Karaikal and Mamallapuram around Puducherry tomorrow late evening. As the cyclone comes closer to the coast , Puducherry its suburbs and Karaikal started experiencing rainfall since, early this morning. The District administration is being geared up to meet the challenge of cyclone “Nivar”. Prohibitory order under section 144 CrPC has been clamped in Puducherry district in view of the ‘Nivar” cyclone.

District Magistrate Apoorva Garg in her order said that the prohibitory order will be in force from 9PM today to 6 AM on Thursday and is subject to further revision. She said that during the period the movement of one or more people in public places in the Puducherry region is prohibited and shops and other business establishments need to be closed.

The order shall not apply to agencies, officials of the government involved in the enforcement of Law and Order and cyclone duty. Maintenance of essential service like milk, petrol bunk and pharmacies etc are allowed to continue, she added. 

Moreover, there has been a change in weather from the afternoon in Andhra Pradesh, due to the NIVAR cyclone.

As per IMD, Amaravathi, moderate rain or thundershowers are very likely over entire Andhra Pradesh tomorrow and Thursday, with isolated heavy to very heavy at one or two places of South coastal AP and Rayalaseema. Extremely heavy rain is likely to occur at Nellore and Chittoor during this period. Light to moderate rain or thundershowers are expected at few places of South coastal AP and Rayalaseema today.

Almost all the 13 Districts of Andhra Pradesh have been kept on high .