Cyclone Nivar to cross Tamil Nadu coast today

New Delhi: The deep depression over the Bay of Bengal intensified into a cyclonic storm on Tuesday and it is likely into further into a severe cyclonic storm during the next 12 hours, the IMD said.

Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, besides the Union Territory of Puducherry, braced for rains, even as the NDRF earmarked 30 teams to launch rescue and relief operations in the states concerned in view of the cyclone 'Nivar.' The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said Nivar is likely to make landfall between the coast of Puducherry and Tamil Nadu coast on Wednesday between 8pm and midnight.

Tamil Nadu has already declared a public holiday on Wednesday whereas Section 144 has been imposed in Puducherry for the next three days.