Vigyan Samachar: MoES News 25/11/2020 Cyclone NIVAR - INCOIS-IMD warning people of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coasts to stay indoor next 24 hours New Delhi, November 25, 2020 (Vigyan Samachar) ESSO-Indian National Center for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) and India Meteorological Department (IMD) have jointly issued orange alert for Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coasts warning possibility of widespread damage in interior districts of Chennai, Chengalpattu, Puducherry, South Arcot, Karaikal, Thiruvararu, Ramanathpuram , Kanyakumari, and adjoining areas due to cyclone NIVAR developed over a low pressure area over the southwest Bay of Bengal. Cyclone NIVAR, which intensified into a "severe cyclonic storm" this morning, has made landfall on Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coasts. As per the latest weather forecast issued by INCOIS-IMD, NIVAR has moved from southwest Bay of Bengal to westnorthwestwards with a speed of 11 kmph in the past six hours and lay centred at 0830 hrs IST of today 25 November, 2020 over southwest Bay of Bengal near latitude 10.7°N and longitude 81.7°E, about 240 km east-southeast of Cuddalore, about 250 km east southeast of Puducherry and 300 km south southeast of Chennai. The severe cyclonic storm also expected to move west-northwestwards across the Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coasts between Karaikal and Mamallapuram around Puducherry during mid- night of 25 November and early hours of 26 November 2020 as a very severe cyclonic storm with a wind speed of 120-130 kmph gusting to 145 kmph, weather office said. Ref: https://twitter.com/Indiametdept/status/1331410780219080704 INCOIS-IMD has warned of winds reaching 120-130 kmph gusting to 145 kmph along & off coastal districts of north Tamil Nadu and Puducherry (Nagapattinam, Karaikal, Myladuthurai, Cuddalore, Puducherry, Villupuram & Chengalpattu) during afternoon of 25 November to early hours of 26 November 2020. VS/MoES/MFA/25.11.2020 .