Chennai: According to the IMD sources cyclone Nivar is very likely to cross the Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coasts between Karaikal and Mahabalipuram. It will cross the coasts around Puducherry late on November 25th evening. Cyclone Nivar will intensify into a severe cyclonic storm by Wednesday morning. Tamil Nadu and Puducherry have declared Wednesday a public holiday as many trains and flights have been cancelled and all three ports in Chennai have been closed.

As per IMD sources the gale wind speed reaching 65-75 kmph gusting to 85 kmph can be experienced from the morning of November 25 and 120-130 kmph gusting to 145 kmph along and off coastal districts of north Tamil Nadu and Puducherry (Nagapattinam, Karaikal, Myladuthurai, Cuddalore, Villupuram and Chengalpet districts; 80-90 gusting to 100 kmph very likely over Tiruvarur, Kanchipuram, Chennai, Tiruvallur districts) during noon to night of November 25.

Tamil Nadu government has declared a public holiday on Wednesday; the transport corporations will not operate buses in Pudukkottai, Nagapattinam, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Cuddalore, Villupuram and Chengalpattu districts. In Chennai, 50 per cent of MTC services will be operated, similar to the pattern followed on public holidays. However, branch managers have been empowered to alter the schedule depending on patronage.

A senior transport official said services fall under essential category and hence, buses will be operated as usual in 31 districts, barring the seven districts which are likely to hit by the cyclone. The officials also said, “Government buses will neither be allowed to run in the seven districts nor will they pass through these districts. This means that all the long-distance buses from Chennai to Delta and southern districts, which are operated via Villupuram and Chengalpattu, will remain suspended.”

Buses from Chennai to Bengaluru, Hosur, Vellore, Salem, Tiruvannamalai, Krishnagiri, Dharmapuri, Karur, Tiruppur, Coimbatore and other destinations in Kongu region will be operated. Both SETC and TNSTC buses will ply as per schedule.