Cyclone Nivar Latest Update: Andhra Pradesh, Puducherry & Tamil Nadu on High Alert; 1200 Rescue Troopers Deployed by NDRF

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) on Wednesday said the extreme cyclonic storm Nivar over southwest Bay of Bengal moved west-northwestwards with a speed of 6 kmph during recent 6 hours and lay focused at 0230 hrs IST over southwest Bay of Bengal. It is probably going to move west-northwestwards for the following six hours and afterward northwestwards. It added that Cyclone Nivar is probably going to increase further into a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm during the following 12 hours. While passing it will be a serious cyclonic storm with average wind speed ranging between 120-130 kmph and further blasting upto 145 kmph. 

Around 1,200 National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) rescue staff have been sent in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Puducherry and 800 others are on reserve taking into account cyclone Nivar, extremely dangerous cyclonic, which is relied upon to make landfall on Wednesday evening. Chief of NDRF, S N Pradhan disclosed that they are ready for a "significant level of force and the most exceedingly terrible form" of the cyclonic storm as it floods from the Bay of Bengal towards the southern coastline. 

The National Crisis Management Committee on Tuesday assessed the position of the storm and guaranteed that immediate assistance will be provided to the affected regions, including the early arrival of the disaster relief fund. The chief secretaries of the three states along with chiefs general of India Meteorological Department and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) informed the NCMC about their readiness. 

The Tamil Nadu government has announced a public holiday on Wednesday as the state prepares for the traverse of Cyclone Nivar late in the evening on November 25. According to the order passed by the government, just essential services will keep on working tomorrow.