Chennai (Tamil Nadu): With cyclone Nivar projected to make its landfall in the next 24 hours, the state government has suspended bus services in seven districts including Chennai.
Fisherfolk from both Tamil Nadu and Puducherry have been advised to reach the nearest fishing ports and harbours for their safety.
Trains which traverse through districts vulnerable to the approaching severe cyclonic storm, have also been suspended from Tuesday morning by the Southern Railway.
Meanwhile, the neighbouring union territory Puducherry has imposed a curfew under Section 144 of the CrPC between 9 pm on Tuesday (Nov 24) to 6 am on Thursday (Nov 26), to mitigate the cyclone's landfall. Only emergency services would be available during the period.
Six scheduled trains from the Union Terrritory have also been suspended due to the threat of the cyclone.
The cyclone is expected to gain strength into the 'Severe Cyclone' category by Wednesday. As per the MET department, the wind speed around coastal areas may range from 95 kilometres to 110 kilometres on Wednesday. The IMD has issued a red alert for Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, while a yellow alert has been issued for coastal Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
Read: Deep depression off Tamil Nadu intensifies into cyclonic storm
Coastal districts of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry are on high alert and senior IAS, IPS officers deployed to weather out the cyclone minimising the havoc it may wreak. The coastal districts like Cuddalore, Karaikkal, Nagapattinam, Villupuram, and Kancheepuram are expected to receive very heavy rainfall in next 24 hours.
Meanwhile, delta districts like Thiruvarur, Thanjavur, Tiruchirapalli, and Pudukottai may also receive heavy rainfall.