Disasters & Accidents

At least 3 killed as cyclone Nivar batters India’s southern coast

(Update 1: adds casualties)

New Delhi, Nov 26 (efe-epa)- At least three Indians were killed on Thursday after cyclone Nivar, categorized as severe by the meteorological department, caused significant damage in the southern states of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.

The deaths took place in three separate incidents linked to strong winds and rains caused by the cyclone, while three others have been injured, Tamil Nadu government’s additional chief secretary Atulya Mishra said in a press conference.

The storm, which had made landfall around midnight with wind gusts of up to 145 kilometers per hour, resulted in numerous fallen trees and blocked roads.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said Thursday morning that the cyclone would continue to move northwest and weaken into a cyclonic storm, before further weakening into a depression with speeds of 35-45 kph by midnight on Thursday.

The meteorological body warned that strong winds could still cause damage to homes and roads and affect power supply especially in areas falling in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.

The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) tweeted images of fallen trees and roads cut off as a result of the cyclone.

Nivar paralyzed air traffic and halted a large part of all commercial activity in the southern India.

Tens of thousands of people living in the coastal areas were evacuated against prediction of heavy rain and floods caused by the cyclone.

The coastal areas of India are known to frequently suffer from cyclones. The previous one hit the western state of Maharashtra in August and left at least six dead and caused material damages.

In May, super cyclone Amphan left more than 100 people dead in India and Bangladesh, in what was one of the worst such incidents in years. EFE-EPA

daa/sc/ia

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