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

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.