Categories: Global

Five Dead as Cyclone Nivar Slams into Southern India

A severe cyclone slammed into India’s southern coast early on Thursday, killing at least five people and uprooting trees and power lines.

[bc_video video_id=”6212519121001″ account_id=”6116119081001″ player_id=”CJdhmO46zo” embed=”in-page” padding_top=”56%” autoplay=”autoplay” min_width=”0px” playsinline=”” picture_in_picture=”” max_width=”640px” mute=”” width=”100%” height=”100%” ]

Cyclone Nivar made landfall near the city of Puducherry, located near the southern state of Tamil Nadu, with winds of up to 130 km per hour, according to the India Meteorological Department.

Initially classified as a “very severe cyclonic storm,” Nivar weakened into a “severe cyclonic storm” after it made landfall.

Heavy rains from the storm caused flooding in some streets of the city of Chennai, Tamil Nadu’s largest city which is home to many large automobile manufacturers.

The storm caused at least five deaths in and around Chennai from trees falling, drowning and electrocution, the Times of India reported.

A spokesman for the chief minister’s office declined to comment on the reported deaths.

Local administration workers have been working to remove fallen trees and power lines, city corporation officials said on Twitter.

People in Velachery, a low-lying suburb of Chennai, said the storm’s impact was mitigated by steps taken by the government ahead of the storm, compared to the hundreds of deaths during floods in 2015.

“The situation was terrible here during the floods in 2015. This year, because of the precautions taken, the situation has not been that bad,” said S. Sakthivel, a shopkeeper in Velachery.

More than a hundred cars were parked on the edge of a bridge in Velachery to keep them above the floodwaters, according to a Reuters witness.

While rains are expected to subside in Tamil Nadu, heavy precipitation is expected in the Rayalaseema region of the neighbouring state of Andhra Pradesh on Thursday.

The streets around the Lord Venkateshwara temple, one of the world’s richest, in Tirumala, Andhra Pradesh, were flooded and officials were working to drain the water, the New Indian Express newspaper reported.

Tens of thousands of people were evacuated from low-lying areas of Tamil Nadu ahead of the storm’s landfall, a state minister said on Wednesday.

The Meteorological Department said Nivar’s intensity had dropped to 85 to 95 kph and is expected to weaken further.

Follow us on:

AriseNews

Recent Posts

Biden Calls ICC’s Arrest Warrants For Netanyahu, Gallant ‘Outrageous’

Biden has condemned ICC's arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant, calling them "outrageous" amid global…

4 mins ago

Chukwuma Ezeala: Simon Ekpa’s Arrest Won’t Guarantee Peace In Southeast, Government Must Identify His Disciples

Chukwuma Ezeala has said that despite Simon Ekpa’s arrest, identifying his disciples in Southeast Nigeria…

6 mins ago

Federal Government Reinstates Ikechebelu as Acting Vice-Chancellor of UNIZIK

The federal government has reinstated Professor Joseph Ikechebelu as acting Vice-Chancellor of UNIZIK, nullifying Professor…

2 hours ago

Court Of Appeal Nullifies Judgment Blocking Voter Register Release For Rivers LG Polls

Court of Appeal has overturned the Federal High Court ruling barring INEC from releasing voter…

2 hours ago

Kenya Cancels Adani Contracts as US Prosecutors Charge Tycoon with Fraud

Kenya has cancelled airport and energy deals with Adani following US bribery and fraud charges…

3 hours ago

Brazil’s Former President Bolsonaro, 36 Others Indicted Over Alleged Coup Attempt In Brazil

Brazil’s former president Bolsonaro and 36 others have been indicted for allegedly attempting a coup…

3 hours ago