Chennai: Water from Chembarambakkam lake, was released after nearly five years on Wednesday with the initial discharge of 1,000 cusecs. This was done as the catchment area receive abundant rainfall due to the approaching severe cyclonic storm Nivar.
Nivar is expected to make landfall Wednesday night on the coast between Karaikal and Mahabalipuram in Tamil Nadu. The storm may develop into a very severe cyclonic storm.
According to the head of Chennai Regional Meteorological Centre S Balachandran, Chennai may witness wind speeds of 100 kmph during the landfall.
Nivar is moving at a speed of 11 kmph in the past six hours, and it is likely to strengthen over the next few hours .
The state machinery has moved 24,166 persons from vulnerable areas besides deployment of 15 NDRF teams with assistance from the Centre. Fourteen teams from the Indian army are pressed to complement the state's efforts.
According to an 8 am report from the state sources, as many as 9,948 men, 10,270 Women, 3,948 Children — a total of 24,166 persons have been rescued from vulnerable locations in 13 districts and accommodated in 315 relief camps.
NDRF teams have been sent to Cuddalore (6 teams), Nagapattinam (3 teams ), Mayiladuthurai (1 team), Villupuram (2 teams), Chengalpattu (3 teams), and Thanjavur (1 team).
Chennai received an average rainfall of about 12.7 cm rainfall overnight.
There are 121 Multispeciality protection camps along with 4,733 accommodation camps. These camps have a capacity to house 12,98,768 persons
As many as 26 trees fell in Chennai due to the cyclone.
As many as 11 express trains cancelled due to NIVAR on Wednesday alone.
With regards to air traffic, the Chennai Airport had to call off 26 flights to various domestic destinations due to the inclement weather.
Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami has left his camp office from Greenways Road residence and headed to Chembarambakkam. He will take stock of the situation in the rain-affected areas in the City. The state had already declared a public holiday on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Opposition leader MK Stalin who set out on a visit to the rain-affected locations doled out food packets and other relief measures.
Puducherry, the neighbouring Union Territory has imposed a curfew under section 144 until the storm weathers out.
On Monday night, Kousalya, (33), a widow living in the outskirts of Chennai City was electrocuted to death when she touched her door which was electrified due to a power leakage in her connection.
Read: 'Nivar' to get stronger; NDRF deploys 30 teams in TN and Puducherry
