Cyclone Nivar: IMD issues a red alert in Tamil Nadu

Chennai: Tamil Nadu is bracing itself for heavy rains as cyclone Nivar is expected to hit on Wednesday afternoon.

The IMD has issued a red alert for the State — a label that urges the authorities and residents to jump into action — for Tuesday and Wednesday.

The regional Meteorological Office in Chennai said the cyclone is likely to move northwestwards and pass the Karaikal-Mamallapuram coast around noon on Wednesday.


Villupuram, Cuddalore, Puducherry and Chennai are expected to be among the worst hit regions.

An IMD bulletin said a well-marked low pressure in the Bay of Bengal closer to the Tamil Nadu coast will intensify into a depression in the next 12 hours and will develop into a cyclonic storm in the subsequent 24 hours. It is moving at 18kmph speed towards the coast.

Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami ordered for all bus services in seven districts, namely Pudukottai, Nagapattinam, Tanjore, Thiruvarur, Cuddalore, Villupuram and Chengalpet, to be halted from 1pm on Tuesday. He said this order would stand till further instructions while also urging the public to stay indoors on account of the cyclone.