SITUATION REPORT CYCLONE NISHA OVERALL SITUATION The Indian Meteorological Department reported that the cyclonic storm ‘NISHA’ over southwest Bay of Bengal moved slightly northwestwards and lay centred at 0530 hours IST of 27 November 2008, very close to Tamil Nadu & Puducherry coast to the north of Karaikal. By 1730 hrs IST, the deep depression over interior Tamil Nadu moved west-northwestwards, weakened into a depression and lay centred over interior Tamil Nadu about 50 km southeast of Dharampuri. At 0530 hrs IST today, 28 November, the depression lay as a well marked low pressure area over north interior Tamil Nadu and adjoining south interior Karnataka & Rayalseema. The system is likely to weaken further. Under its influence, rainfall at most places with heavy to very heavy falls at a few places likely over north Tamil Nadu & Puducherry, south interior Karnataka and Rayalseema during next 24 hours. Rainfall at many places with isolated heavy to very heavy falls is also likely over south coastal Andhra Pradesh and isolated heavy falls over Kerala and south Tamil Nadu during the same period. Squally winds speed reaching 45-55 kmph are likely along and off Tamil Nadu & Puducherry coasts during next 12 hours. Strong surface winds speed reaching 40-50 kmph occasio nally gusting to 60 kmph is also likely over interior districts of Tamil Nadu during next 12 hours. Sea condition is very rough to high along and off these coasts. Fishermen are advised not to venture into the open sea during next 12 hours. Over 800,000 people are affected and around 100,000 people have been evacuated in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. As of this morning, 54 people have lost their lives while media reports say that 89 lives were lost in Tamil Nadu. Roads, buildings and cropped area have been severely damaged. The release of water from dams particularly 15,000 cusecs from the Chembarambakkam dam is adding to the flood situation in Tamil Nadu. Relief camps have been set up in districts and food and cash are being distributed. The PM has sanctioned a team to assess the damage. CYCLONE TRACK (TROPICAL STORM RISK) (((IN 1 Sit Rep - Cyclone Nisha- 28 November 2008 DAMAGE DETAILS SN Particulars of Damages (as on 27 November 08) Total 1 No of taluks affected 0 2 No of revenue villages affected 663 3 Population affected 803,740 4 No of human lives lost 42 5 No of cattle lost 107 6 No of huts fully damaged 548 7 No of huts partly damaged 429 8 Area of crop damaged due to heavy rain 219,841 (p roduction loss 50% and above) 9 Roads damaged due to heavy rain( length in Km) 414 1. National highways (KM) 8 2. State highways (KM) 303 3. Municipal Roads (KM) 96.7 4. Special Panchayat roads (KM) 7.2 5. Village panchayat roads (KM) 71.8 10 No of tanks breached 44 11 No of culverts / bridges damaged 117 12 No. of public buildings damaged 3 13 Boats damaged 1. Country boats 162 2. Mechanized boats 62 14 No of supply channels damaged 21 2 Sit Rep - Cyclone Nisha- 28 November 2008 District-wise damage details (as on 27 November 08): TAMILNADU & PUDUCHERRY Total No of damages Karaikal Tirivarur Cuddalore Tirunelveli Villupuram Pudukottai Thoothukudi Particulars KanyaKumari Puducherry & Nagapattinam SN of Damages Ramanathapuram 1 No of taluks affected 2 No of revenue 573 20 70 villages affected 3 Population 66,120 2,616 735,004 affected 4 No of human 6 2 8 1 1 8 13 3 lives lost 5 No of cattle 7 8 6 5 58 14 9 lost 6 No of huts 279 6 1 42 29 77 6 99 9 fully damaged 7 No of huts 70 21 72 62 108 54 42 partly damaged 8 Area of crop 124,689 95,152 damaged due to heavy rain ( production loss 50% and above) 9 Roads 414 damaged due to heavy rain ( length in Km) 1. National 8 highways (KM) 2. State 303 highways (KM) 3. Municipal 88.5 5 3.2 Roads (KM) 4. Special 5 2.2 Panchayat roads (KM) 5. Village 60.1 11.7 panchayat roads (KM) 10 No of tanks 27 7 10 breached 11 No of culverts 4 94 19 / bridges damaged 12 No. of public 3 buildings damaged 13 Boats damaged 3 Sit Rep - Cyclone Nisha- 28 November 2008 1. Country 162 boats 2. Mechanized 62 boats 14 No of supply 21 channels damaged GOVERNMENT RESPONSE SN Relief Details (as on 27 November 08) Total 1 No of people evacuated 106,145 2 No of relief centres opened 650 3 No of people in relief centres 89,395 4 Total no of food packets distributed 548,205 5 Total cash dole distributed 450,000 District-wise relief details (as on 27 November 08): TAMILNADU & PUDUCHERRY Total No of damages Karaikal Tirivarur Cuddalore Tirunelveli Villupuram Pudukottai Thoothukudi KanyaKumari Particulars Puducherry & Nagapattinam SN of Damages Ramanathapuram 1 No of people 66,120 110 2,510 37,405 evacuated 2 No of relief 249 2 12 241 80 66 centres opened 3 No of people 410 2,510 86,475 in relief centres 4 Total no of 132,240 410 15,150 37,405 363,000 food packets distributed 5 Total cash 450,000 dole distributed UN RESPONSE The UN Tsunami Recovery Support office in Chennai will be und ertaking a quick assessment of the damage as soon as possible for field staff. The UNTRS and UNICEF office in Tamil Nadu are coordination and exchanging information on the latest situation. MEDIA REPORTS Cyclone paralyses life Normal life was thrown out of gear on Wednesday 26 November as Chennai went under a thick sheet of water following torrential rains, as cyclone ‘Nisha’ inched its way towards the Nagapattinam coast. With the entire coast along the Bay of Bengal, where the cyclonic formation was centered, experiencing rains and surface winds in the range of 65 to 85 kmph, many trees here were uprooted and some medians damaged. Fisherman did not venture into the sea from Kasimedu harbour, as 4 Sit Rep - Cyclone Nisha- 28 November 2008 the sea continued to be rough and local cautionary signal ‘No 3’ was hoisted in the Chennai port. A group of fishermen, who were returning to the shore after sailing into the sea before the weather turned inclement, were caught in the choppy waters near Pazhaverkadu. In the evening, a Coast Guard vessel was dispatched to rescue them. Streets, lanes and bylanes in many residential colonies were inundated as water was pumped out of the buildings on to the road and also due the clogging of the storm water drainage system. Most subways saw heavy waterlogging. As Corporation officials used pumps to drain water from them and from other waterlogged roads, smooth flow of traffic was affected. There were minor traffic diversions as manholes in a few places were removed to drain water through the storm water system. Many bus stands in the city, including Thiruvanmiyur and Perumbur, were submerged, forcing the drivers to park the buses on the road, inconveniencing passengers and also con tributing to the traffic chaos. The railways, however, ran their long-distance trains, only cancelling two to Rameswaram. (Indian Express) Cyclone Nisha batters coastal regions Nature unleashed havoc in Nagapattinam and Karaikal districts on 26 November. Heavy rainfall and gusty winds claimed three lives in Nagapattinam besides flooding the dwellings and driving over 78,000 people to 308 cyclone-relief centres. A ship anchored at Tirukkadaiyur port got drifted into the sea towards Tarangambadi. As the cyclonic storm ‘Nisha’ got nearer, the coastal areas started receiving heavy rains and strong winds. The total rainfall recorded at 8.30 am stood at 2,145 mm, with Vedaranyam registering the highest of 333 mm. In Cuddalore, over six lakh people were affected by the torrential rainfall in the coastal district as more than 50,000 houses were inundated, paddy and sugarcane crops raised on 200,000 acres submerged and power transmission crippled for more than 15 hours in the district. The rainfall accompanied by strong wind uprooted more than 1,000 roadside trees. Four persons died in separate incidents on Wednesday. In Pamban, while torrential rain continued to lash different parts of the Ramanathapuram district on Wednesday, the fifth cyclone warning signal was hoisted at Pamban port office. About 175 boats across the district were damaged. Revenue Minister I Periyasamy said the district administration has sought Rs 2.7 million to compensate for the damaged boats, which would be disbursed soon. In Tiruchy, a woman who took shelter from rain under a temple wall died when the wall collapsed on her in Alampattiputhur near Tiruchy on Wednesday. In Pudukkotai, as many as 11 cyclone protection centres have been alerted and kept in a state of readiness, said Pudukkottai District Collector Reeta Harish Thakkar on Wednesday. (Indian Express) Central team to assess damage Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has directed Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil to immediately despatch a central team to Tamil Nadu to assess the havoc caused by the cyclone ‘Nisha’ and estimate the damage in 10 coastal districts of the State in the last few days. This followed a presentation made by Union Shipping Minister and DMK Parliamentary leader T.R. Baalu to the Cabinet on Thursday (27 November) morning about the cyclone damag e. Mr. Baalu told the Cabinet that the cyclone had caused extensive damage to the life and property in the State. As many as 54 persons had lost their lives due to the floods/rain-related incidents and a large number of heads of cattle had perished.