Cyclone Nivar | Eerie silence in Nagapattinam-Karaikal coast

An eerie silence prevailed alongside the Nagapattinam-Karaikal coast forward of the landfall of Cylone Nivar on Wednesday.

Squally climate, accompanied by heavy rain and powerful winds, pressured individuals to stay indoors. The sea was tough all through the day. No one was allowed to enterprise into the ocean as sign quantity 6 cyclone alert flag was raised in the Nagapattinam and Karaikal ports.

Karaikal streets wore a abandoned look as Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) was promulgated to maintain individuals indoors.

The fishermen of Akkaraipettai in Nagapattinam and Arcottuthurai close to Vedaranyam moved their boats to security. They had been all moved to the neighbouring cyclone rescue centres. Police personnel patrolling the coastal hamlets made it a degree to shift the fishermen to rescue centres.

People from all walks of life, together with merchants, retailers, fishermen and farmers, stayed indoors in Thanjavur, Tiruvarur and Nagapattinam districts. Most of the highways, together with the Thanjavur—Nagapattinam Road, seemed abandoned, because the State authorities had suspended public transport. Only a number of autos, primarily ambulances, had been seen on the roads. A majority of economic institutions remained closed.

Anxiety among the many individuals in addition to the officers was palpable, as they had been bracing themselves to face the fury of a extreme cyclonic storm inside two years of Cyclone Gaja wreaking havoc in Nagapattinam, Tiruvarur, Thanjavur and Pudukottai districts.

As of 5 p.m. on Wednesday, 45,695 individuals had been evacuated in Nagapattinam district and housed in 179 cyclone rescue centres, Collector Praveen P. Nair instructed The Puucho.

“The northern parts of the district have been witnessing heavy rainfall with gusty winds since the afternoon. No one is allowed on the roads. They have been asked to remain indoors. We are closely monitoring the situation,” he added.

COVID-19 testing

He stated medical groups had been deployed to the cyclone rescue centres. They have been requested to hold out COVID-19 testing for the susceptible. People who check constructive can be remoted.

H.M. Jayaram, Inspector General of Police, Central Zone, instructed The Puucho that 9,500 police personnel had been mobilised for finishing up rescue and rehabilitation work. They have been placed on most alert.

A complete of 205 villages and areas in Nagapattinam and Mayiladuthurai districts have been deemed cyclone-prone. As a precautionary measure, the residents, significantly fishermen, have been moved to safer locations.