New Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said he spoke to chief ministers of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry and assured all possible assistance from the Centre in view of the approaching cyclonic storm, Nivar. In a tweet, the Prime Minister said, ”Spoke to Tamil Nadu CM Shri @EPSTamilNadu and Puducherry CM Shri @VNarayanasami regarding the situation in the wake of Cyclone Nivar. Assured all possible support from the Centre. I pray for the safety and well-being of those living in the affected areas.”The deep depression over southwest Bay of Bengal moved west-northwestwards with a speed of five kmph during the past six hours, intensified into a Cyclonic Storm ”NIVAR” and would cross between Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coasts as a severe cyclonic storm tomorrow.A bulletin issued by the Met office on Tuesday said the storm now lay centred over southwest Bay of Bengal about 410 km east -southeast of Puducherry and 450 km southeast of Chennai.It is very likely to intensify further into a severe cyclonic storm during the next 24 hours, move west-northwestwards for next 12 hours and then northwestwards. Union Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba on Monday chaired a meeting of the National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) to review the status of impending Cyclone through video-conferencing with the Chief Secretaries of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.The Chief Secretaries of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry briefed the NCMC about their
preparedness and mentioned that the authorities were fully prepared to meet any eventuality. They also informed about the coordination with the NDRF and other agencies to meet this challenge. The Director General of India Meteorological Department made presentation on the present situation and mentioned that the status is being shared with the concerned state governments. He said the impending cyclone is going to affect the coastal areas of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry between November 24 to 26.