Cyclone Nivar intensifies; Tamil Nadu, Puducherry brace for severe cyclonic storm

Severe cyclonic storm 'Nivar' will intensify into a very severe cyclonic storm over the next 12 hours and cross the coast between Tamil Nadu and Puducherry Wednesday midnight or early Thursday. The India Meteorological Department said it is very likely to move northwestwards and cross between Karaikal and Mamallapuram around Puducherry during mid-night of November 25 and early hours of November 26 as a very severe cyclonic storm with a wind speed of 120-130 kmph gusting to 145 kmph. Meanwhile, Chennai and its suburbs received heavy overnight rains, with low-lying areas getting inundated and water entering houses in such localities.