World Heavy rains in India ahead of 'severe cyclone'

Heavy rains have been lashing the southern state of Tamil Nadu as it braces for Cyclone Nivar.

© Getty Images The cyclone is expected to bring winds between 120-130 km per hour

Officials said it's expected to make landfall on the south-eastern coast shortly after midnight, intensifying into a "very severe cyclonic storm".

Uninterrupted rains have already felled trees and flooded much of the state capital, Chennai (formerly Madras).

Evacuations have begun in Tamil Nadu and the neighbouring state of Pondicherry (also known as Puducherry).

The cyclone, India's meteorological department or IMD , said is expected to bring heavy rainfall and winds gusting up to 145 km/h (90mph).

India: thanks to the evacuations, the cyclone caused no casualties according to the authorities

© Provided by Le Point Accurate weather forecasts and the preventive evacuation of hundreds of thousands of people on the South-East coast of the India hit by a cyclone prevented any loss of human life, the authorities said Thursday as rescuers worked to restore power and clear fallen trees. Cyclone Nivar made landfall at 3:05 am (9:35 pm GMT) near Pondicherry, with winds of up to 130 km / h which uprooted trees and carried torrential rains reaching in places 30 cm in a few hours.

Cyclone Amphan has made landfall in eastern India and Bangladesh, killing at least 15 people as it lashed coastal areas with ferocious wind and rain . Trees were uprooted and homes toppled in both countries, including in the Indian city of Kolkata in West Bengal. Nearly three million people were

The Indian weather service said Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm Fani is gathering near the Hindu holy town of Puri with gusts of up to 200 kmh (AFP Photo/HO). Nearly 800,000 people in India 's eastern coastal districts have been evacuated ahead of the expected arrival of a major cyclone

All fishing boats have been advised to return to harbours. Thirty disaster response teams have been deployed across the states of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry. The Indian coast guard too has deployed offshore patrol vehicles, helicopters and aircraft for assistance and surveillance.

© Getty Images Heavy rains have already flooded parts of Chennai

Weather officials have warned of heavy rains across coastal Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Andhra Pradesh in the coming hours as the cyclone approaches.

The excessive rainfall has raised fears of flooding in Chennai and people living in low-lying areas are being evacuated.

In 2015, widespread flooding in Chennai due to heavy rains and overflowing rivers brought the city to a standstill.

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For the next 24 hours, light to moderate rains would continue over Northeast India . As the very severe Cyclone Fani reaches Odisha by May 2, rains would

Indian officials are on alert after Cyclone Amphan - due to make landfall on the east coast - looks likely to intensify into a "very severe " storm. The storm is expected to make landfall on Wednesday and hit West Bengal and Orissa (Odisha) states. Twenty relief teams have been dispatched there.

© Getty Images Officials have warned of continued rainfall as the storm appraoches

In Tamil Nadu, the state government has declared a public holiday and advised people to stay indoors. Buses, trains and flights have been suspended.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted, saying that he had spoken with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswamy, assuring him of all "possible support" from the federal government.

In Pondicherry, officials in some parts have imposed restrictions to stop people from gathering outdoors.

© Getty Images India's meteorological department has asked fishermen to remain ashore

"People have been advised to stay indoors and those living in low-lying areas were asked to shift to safer places. We are providing food and drinking water to the people, and their Covid-19 tests will also be done," Pondicherry's chief minister, Velu Narayansamy, told ANI news agency.

Senior IMD officials told news agency ANI that the cyclone is intensifying and could cause structural damage, uprooting trees and crops, and even destroying thatched and tin-roofed houses when it struck.