Cyclone Burevi LIVE: Tuticorin Airport to remain closed till Friday 12 pm

Heavy to extremely heavy rain (over 204 mm) is forecast in Tamil Nadu and Kerala till December 5. Stay with us for all the latest updates

Cyclone Burevi LIVE updates: Cyclonic storm 'Burevi' over north Sri Lanka moved west-northwestwards and centered over Gulf of Mannar, which is about 40 km west-northwest of Mannar, 40 km east-southeast of Pamban (India) and 260 km east-northeast of Kanniyakumari, the India Meteorological Department informed on Thursday. The associated wind speed is about 70-80 gusting to 90 kmph.

Under the influence of cyclone Burevi, heavy to extremely heavy rain (over 204 mm) is forecast in Tamil Nadu and Kerala till December 5. The MET department has forecast that cyclone Burevi will cross between Kanyakumai and Pamban as a cyclonic storm (wind speed 78 to 80 km/hour, gusting to 100 km/hour) on Friday.

Burevi would move nearly westwards across Pamban area and it would then move west-southwestwards and cross south Tamil Nadu coast between Pamban and Kanniyakumari during December 3 night and December 4 early morning as a cyclonic storm with a wind speed of 70-80 gusting to 90 kmph, the IMD said.

Which areas will be affected by Cyclone Burevi?

Heavy to very heavy rainfalls are expected over south Tamil Nadu -- Ramanathapuram, Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli, Kanniyakumari, Tenkasi, Virudhunagar, Theni, Madurai and Sivagangai districts and over south Kerala -- Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Idukki and Alappuzah on December 3. "Isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall likely over south Tamil Nadu and south Kerala on December 4.
 

Northern districts of Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Lakshadweep and south coastal Andhra Pradesh will receive heavy rain till Saturday.

Stay tuned for latest updates on Cyclone Burevi

 

2:05 AM

Cyclone Burevi: Kerala CM hold high-level meeting with representatives of armed forces, NDRF, others

In the wake of a high alert issued for Cyclone Burevi, a high-level meeting was held with representatives of armed forces, Coast Guard, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), various department heads, DGP and Chief Secretary, said Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday. In the meeting, the situation was assessed and strategy was evaluated, Kerala Chief Minister informed.

"As IMD alerted the state, Kerala took all necessary precautions including a complete ban on fishing. District Collectors are making all preventive efforts. 2891 relief camps opened. A 24-hour control room with helpline numbers have been started," said Vijayan. The Centre has been apprised about the preparations taken by the state, he added. "Today morning I spoke with Union Home Minister Amit Shah. He offered all help from the Centre. All efforts taken by the state was convened to him," said Vijayan.

2:02 AM

Cyclone Burevi: Kerala declares public holiday in 5 districts on Friday

The Kerala government has declared a holiday in five districts for Friday as the state remains on high alert with heavy rains expected when cyclone Burevi makes landfall. The India Meteorological Department (IMD), in its latest bulletin, has said Burevi may make landfall in Kerala on December 4 and has issued red alert and cyclone warning for south Tamil Nadu and south Kerala coasts. A statement issued by the state government said a public holiday has been declared for the districts of Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha and Idukki in the state.

Over 2,000 relief camps have been opened in Kerala, it said. "A public holiday for all government offices including public sector undertakings has been declared for the five districts in the state," the statement said. It, however, said the disaster management authority and concerned services, emergency services and election-related services will function normally. The international airport here will remain shut from 10 AM to 6 PM on December 4.

The IMD has predicted that the course of the storm will be through the border areas of Thiruvananthapuram and Kollam districts and the government, along with various departments and the Army, were ready to face the contingencies, the statement said.

11:39 PM

2891 relief camps opened, Cetre offered all help in aftermath of Cyclone Burevi: Kerala CM

Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday said that as IMD alerted the state, Kerala took all necessary precautions including complete ban on fishing. "District Collectors are making all preventive efforts. 2891 relief camps opened," he said.

Vijayan added that a 24-hour control room with helpline numbers have been started. "In the wake of high alert issued for Cyclone Burevi, a high-level meeting was held with representatives of armed forces, Coast Guard, NDRF, various department heads, DGP and Chief Secretary."

"In the meeting, the situation was assessed & strategy was evaluated. The Centre has been apprised about the preparations taken by the state. Today morning I spoke with Union Home Minister Amit Shah. He offered all help from the Centre. All efforts taken by state was convened to him," Vijayan said.

11:36 PM

Cyclone Burevi LIVE: Flight services at Madurai airport suspended till 12 pm tomorrow, in the wake of cyclone #Burevi. Tuticorin airport to be closed tomorrow.

10:01 PM

Cycline Burevi: People shifted from Trivandrum hill station to relief camp

9:57 PM

Cyclone Burevi LIVE: Tuticorin Airport closed for operations till 12 pm tomorrow as a precautionary measure, in the wake of cyclone

9:36 PM

LIVE: Cyclone Burevi to cross Tamil Nadu districts at midnight: IMD

8:26 PM

Cyclone Burevi expected to enter Kerala on Friday: CM Pinarayi Vijayan

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday said given the present set of indicators, Cyclone Burevi is expected to enter Kerala on Friday.

 

"According to the IMD, Burevi is expected to enter Indian territory at Tuticorin coast either tonight (Thursday) or tomorrow morning (Friday). By tomorrow afternoon, it is expected to touch base in Kerala... it is expected to arrive in the Kollam and Thiruvananthapuram border and from there, it will go into the Arabian Sea. Once in land the expected maximum wind speed is expected to be 60 kms in an hour," he said.

 

Vijayan said that districts like Pathanamthitta, Idukki and Alappuzha can expect very heavy rainfall.

 

"All have to be very cautious and have to be on alert till it leaves our state. All the basic arrangements have been done and officials are also ready. Mobile operators have been asked to ensure that they provide generators at all tower sites. Air Force and Navy are also all ready, in case a need arises," he added.

 

Vijayan said in the morning Union Home Minister Amit Shah had called him to assure of all help and asked that there should be no hesitation to call for any need.

7:40 PM

Cyclone Burevi to cross Pamban-Kanniyakumari coast Thursday night

Cyclonic storm Burevi is expected to cross the south Tamil Nadu coast between Pamban and Kanniyakumari, during late Thursday night/early Friday morning, with wind speed of 70-80 gusting to 90 kmph, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.

 

According to the IMD, the impact would continue over Ramanathapuram, Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli and Kanniyakumari districts of south Tamil Nadu and adjoining districts of south Kerala till early on Friday. The IMD said Burevi lay centered 40km east-southeast of Pamban and 260 km east-northeast of Kanniyakumari.

 

Heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places with isolated extremely heavy falls are very likely over south Tamil Nadu (Ramanathapuram, Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli, Kanniyakumari, Tenkasi, Virudhunagar, Theni, Madurai and Sivagangai districts) on Thursday and isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall likely over rest of south Tamil Nadu on Friday.

 

The IMD said heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places is very likely over north Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal on Thursday and isolated heavy rainfall on Friday.

7:04 PM

Cyclone Burevi lays centered over Gulf of Mannar, to move across Pamban soon

The cyclonic storm 'Burevi' over north Sri Lanka moved west-northwestwards and centered over Gulf of Mannar, which is about 40 km west-northwest of Mannar, 40 km east-southeast of Pamban (India) and 260 km east-northeast of Kanniyakumari, the India Meteorological Department informed on Thursday. The associated wind speed is about 70-80 gusting to 90 kmph.

 

Burevi would move nearly westwards across Pamban area and it would then move west-southwestwards and cross south Tamilnadu coast between Pamban and Kanniyakumari during December 3 night and December 4 early morning as a cyclonic storm with a wind speed of 70-80 gusting to 90 kmph, the IMD said.

 

The cyclonic storm would continue to impact Ramanathapuram, Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli and Kanniyakumari districts of south Tamilnadu and adjoining districts of south Kerala till early hours of December 4.

 

Heavy to very heavy rainfalls are expected over south Tamil Nadu -- Ramanathapuram, Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli, Kanniyakumari, Tenkasi, Virudhunagar, Theni, Madurai and Sivagangai districts and over south Kerala -- Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Idukki and Alappuzah on December 3. "Isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall likely over south Tamil Nadu and south Kerala on December 4.

6:32 PM

Armed forces at Kerala's capital gear up to face Cyclone Burevi

As Cyclone Burevi is expected to make landfall by Friday morning across the southern districts of Kerala and Tamil Nadu, the Armed Forces stationed at Trivandrum geared up and activated their assets to face the potential hazard. Senior Officers from armed forces met the officials of the state government and analysed the situation, as per an official press release from the Kerala government.

 

To address contingencies, Pangode Military Station is ready with 12 columns of soldiers, each consists of 25 Army personnel. Moreover, Mi-17 and Sarang helicopters and AN-32 aircraft are placed at Sulur Air Force Station, Coimbatore to face any exigencies. Coast Guard Station, Vizhinjam has deployed two ships and two boats. Southern Air Command Headquarters at Akkulam and Air Force Station at Shangumugom are fully prepared to face any situation.

 

Aircraft of the Indian Navy and Indian Coast Guard had their sorties off the coast of Thiruvananthapuram and Lakshadweep for overall surveillance and instructed the fishermen to go back to the shore immediately.

6:15 PM

Cyclone Burevi LIVE: Puducherry schools will remain closed tomorrow due to continuous rains

5:35 PM

Cyclone Burevi moving away from Sri Lanka, damage has been minimal

Cyclone Burevi, which made landfall in Sri Lanka's Northern Province on Wednesday night, has not caused much damage but its after-effects will last for another 24 hours, the country's meteorological department said on Thursday. The tropical cyclone made landfall in the island nation's Trincomalee district between Thiriyaya and Kuchchaveli villages last night, the Disaster Management Centre said.

 

Districts in the island's north and east received as much as 200 mm of rain. However, its impact was less than what was anticipated. Incidents of flooding and tree felling were reported but property damage has largely been contained. In a flash flood in Trincomalee district, 12 houses were submerged. Over 630 families were accommodated in temporary relief camps, while over 1,700 families made personal arrangements in safe locations.

 

In northern Vavuniya district, around 250 families had been evacuated, officials said.

 

The meteorological department said the cyclone will exit the country by early Thursday evening but the coastal areas will continue to be out of bounds as strong winds and heavy rain are predicted. The effect of the cyclone will gradually diminish throughout the day.

5:01 PM

Kerala sounds alert in health sector over cyclone Burevi threat

The Kerala Health department on Wednesday sounded an alert in the wake of the cyclone Burevi, which is expected to hit the state on December 4, and said all precautionary measures were taken to meet any emergency situation. Health Minister K K Shylaja said the alert was issued to effectively combat various health issues caused by the cyclone and rains and the subsequent epidemic.

 

Director of Health and Director of Medical Education have been instructed to ensure sufficient medical facilities and medicines in state hospitals. All precautionary measures should be taken in adherence with the COVID-19 guidelines, she noted.

 

"All medical colleges and hospitals should make adequate preparations to meet the situation. Hospital managements should make arrangements to deal with mass causalities in emergency department," the minister said.

 

All hospitals were asked to make sure emergency medicines, including anti-snake venom and medical kits are available. The health department's rapid response teams should be vigilant always especially in the affected districts.

4:40 PM

Cyclone Burevi LIVE: Kerala CM calls for high-level meeting to tackle rain fury

As Kerala remainsunder high alert expectingheavy rains and winds as result of cyclone Burevi, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday called for a high-level meeting of the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) and other departments. The India Meteorological Department (IMD), in its latest bulletin, has said Burevi may make its landfall in Kerala on December 4 and issued a red alert and cyclone warning for south Tamilnadu and south Kerala coasts.

 

The IMD has predicted that Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Alappuzha, Idukki and Ernakulam districts would receive heavy rains and wind from December 3 to 5. The NDRF team, which had reached Kerala, has inspected the hilly regions and the coastal areas of Thiruvananthapuram. The Fire and Rescue team has been engaged in cutting and removing trees and branches which pose danger to the public in case of heavy rains and wind.

 

"We are fully equipped to deal with any kind of situation," NDRF sub-inspector K K Ashokan told the media.

 

The administration of the state capital has opened 217 relief camps and 15,840 people have been shifted there from disaster-prone areas. A deep depression over southwest Bay of Bengal has intensified into a cyclonic storm 'Burevi' which is likely to hit south Kerala with the weatherman predicting heavy rains and wind in the seven southern districts of the state from December 3 to 5. Eight teams of the NDRF have already reached the state and Pinarayi Vijayan had on Wednesday informed that facilities of the Air Force have been arranged at Sulur Air Force base in Coimbatore to meet any eventuality.