Severe cyclonic storm crossed coast near Puducherry, strong winds continue

Chennai: A severe cyclonic storm NIVAR over southwest Bay of Bengal crossed the coast near Puducherry in the early hours of November 26, and moved northwestwards after weakening into a deep depression. Areas near Puducherry, Cuddalore, Vellore, Kanchipuram, Mamallapuram and Tambaram in Tamil Nadu were largely affected due to heavy rains and strong winds.
 
Many areas in Cuddalore were flooded, while standing crops in Kurinjipadi including sugarcane and plaintain trees and suffered intensive damage due to strong wind. Mudichur near Tambaram was also severely affected with flood waters entering many homes. Nearly 2,500 acres of standing crop in Kanchipuram district had also been affected by the heavy rains. Many parts of Vellore disrict also received heavy rainfall upto 10 cm in the last 24 hours.
 
Chennai received 35 cm rain in the last 26 hours, according to Greater Chennai Commissioner G Prakash. The city also received about 55 cm rainfall against the normal rainfall of 80 cm during the North East monsoon. In Chennai, 26 subways were flooded. Corporation authorities were engaged in pumping out water from the subways and inundated areas.  
 
Reservoirs providing drinking water to Chennai city were fast filling up. On November 25, water was let out from Chembarampakkam reservoir as water capacity was nearing the 22 ft mark as against its full level of 24 ft. However, the discharge was stopped on November 26 after the cyclone crossed the coast near Puducherry.
 
DMK president MK Stalin visited parts of Saidapet in Chennai while chief minister K Palaniswami will visit Cuddalore on November 26 afternoon.