India's southeastern coast braces for powerful cyclone Nivar

Banning local public gatherings and closing shops, India is bracing for a powerful cyclone that is barrelling towards the southeastern coast. More than a thousand rescue personnel have been mobilised as the cyclone is set to bring heavy rains and wind. Cyclone Nivar will cross the coasts of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, officials said and parts of Andhra Pradesh is also set to be hit.

The cyclone has been classified as a "very severe cyclonic storm" according to India's Met Department as it ranks as the fifth-strongest on a scale of seven storm types. Rainfall is expected and the NDRF has been deployed to help villages and cities in possible evacuation. State CM Edappadi K Palaniswami declared a public holiday and the Lt Governer of Puducherry banned public gatherings till Thursday.

Puducherry have shut everything but essential services, such as pharmacies and petrol stations. Fishermen are dragging their boats to safety as the cyclone is set to pass 175 kms northeast of Sri Lanka early Wednesday.

In its latest bulletin, the Met Department said cyclone will intensify in the next 12 hours. In Chennai, water from the Chembarambakkam lake will be released as it is nearing capacity and discharge will be steeped up depending on the inflow.

Some of the deadliest storms that have recently hit India include Cyclone Fani, which in 2019, killed 89 people and caused heavy damage to properties. Cyclone Ockhi, which hit Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Gujarat, killed 245 people. In 2016, Cyclone Vardah, passing through Andaman and Nicobar islands, hit Chennai Kancheepuram and Vishakhapatnam, killing 38 people.