INTRODUCTION

Cyclonic Storm Nilam (IMD designation: BOB 02, JTWC designation: 02B, also known as Cyclone Nilam) was the deadliest tropical cyclone to directly affect South India since Cyclone Jal in 2010. Originating from an area of low pressure over the Bay of Bengal on October 28, the system began as a weak depression 550 km (340 mi) northeast of Trincomalee, Sri Lanka. Over the following few days, the depression gradually intensified into a deep depression, and subsequently a Cyclonic Storm by October 30. It made landfall near Mahabalipuram on October 31 as a strong Cyclonic Storm with peak winds of 85 km/h (50 mph). In Chennai's Marina Beach, strong winds pushed piles of sand ashore and seawater reached nearly a 100 m (330 ft) inland.

FORECASTING

In the early hours of October 27, the India Meteorological Department's Regional Specialized Meteorological Centre in New Delhi started to monitor an area of low pressure, that had developed in south central Bay of Bengal. The next day, the system intensified into a Depression about 550 km (340 mi) to the northeast of Trincomalee, Sri Lanka. The IMD officially designated it with BOB 02. During that day the depression moved towards the west and gradually developed further with deep convection surrounding the system becoming better organized. The Joint Typhoon Warning Centre also noted that deep convection was building over a cloud-covered low level circulation center and issued a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert. Early the next day, RSMC New Delhi reported that the depression had intensified into a Deep Depression, before later that day the JTWC started to monitor the system as Tropical Cyclone 02B with wind speeds equivalent to a tropical storm. Early on October 30, RSMC New Delhi reported that the system had intensified into a Cyclonic Storm and named it as Nilam while it was located about 100 km (60 mi) to the northeast of Trincomalee in Sri Lanka.

During that day, Nilam moved towards the northwest, while continuing to develop further. Early the next day, the JTWC reported that Nilam had reached its 1-minute peak wind speeds of 100 km/h (60 mph), while RSMC New Delhi reported 3-minute peak sustained wind speeds of 85 km/h (55 mph). Nilam continued to track northwestward under the influence of a low to mid-level subtropical ridge. Later that day the system made landfall on the Indian Coast near Mahabalipuram, before the JTWC issued its final advisory on Nilam as it started to rapidly weaken into a depression over land. In the early hours of November 1, Nilam weakened into a Deep Depression. As it moved further inland into the Rayalaseema region of Andhra Pradesh, Nilam further weakened into a Depression. The IMD continued tracking Nilam as a weak depression until November 2, when they issued their last warning on the system.

PRECAUTIONS TO BE TAKEN DURING A CYCLONE

Some of the precautions to be taken during a cyclone are:-

1. We should not ignore the warnings issued by the meteorological department through TV, radio or newspapers.

2. People must have complete awareness of this threat of nature.

3. People should move faster as soon as they receive warning from weather forecast.

4. Keep ready the phone numbers of all emergency services like police, fire brigade and medical centers.

5. Avoid driving on roads through standing water, as floods may have damaged the roads

6. Do not go out just for sake of fun.

7. Do not drink water as it may be contaminated.  Store water for emergencies.

8. Trees should be trimmed regularly to avoid fall of trees on innocent peoples.

9. You should take refuge at the strongest part of your home like where you have the concrete columns.

10. Do not stand under the ceiling fans or chandeliers which may fall.

11. Secure your outdoor furniture to reduce the amount of damage.

12. Keep the storm water drains free from any blocks.

13. Turn off gas to prevent leakages.

14. Do not touch wet switches and fallen power lines.

15. Use pillows and bed-sheets to cover yourself during strong winds to avoid physical injuries.

16. Get extra foods that can be eaten without cooking or take very less preparations.

17. Be courageous. Your ability to withstand in such a situation may inspire others.

18. Stay indoors

19. Stuff your house with essentials for at least another three days

20. Drink safe and boiled water

21. Eat well cooked food

22. Wear warm clothes

23. Don’t go near beaches

24. Help those in distress

25. Charge your cells and inverters to its maximum capacity

26. The high winds and heavy rain that occur during a cyclone can cause substantial damage to your home and possessions but it's the damage that can often be prevented.

IMPACT

Schools and colleges in Chennai remained closed for more than three days.

While damages to property were considerable, human casualties were very few. Nilam was initially estimated to have caused economic losses of around 700 million (US$12 million) to 800 million (US$14 million). The figures soon went up to 100 crore (US$17 million). Later, as the Andhra Pradesh government conducted their review on the storm, it was revealed that the state suffered huge economic losses of 200 crore (US$34 million).

Mahabalipuram faced power outages and 90 trees were uprooted and two huts were damaged.

In Bangalore, heavy rains and strong winds felled over 86 trees. One fell on the compound wall of a police commissioner's residence, causing structural damage.

In Basava Road, a tree pulled down power lines, along with six electric poles outing power in the locality.

Over 3,000 tonnes of debris was cleared out using 285 trucks. 87.5 millimetres (3.44 in) of rainfall was recorded in the city with a maximum sustained wind speed of 47 km/h (29 mph).

Andhra Pradesh

During the storm, 150,000 people were shifted to cyclone shelters in Nellore district. Along with Nellore, Chittoor district also saw very heavy rainfall. Severe flooding in Prakasham district blocked a highway and strong winds overturned a major truck. Several villages and towns in southern coastal Andhra Pradesh were flooded and heavy rains were also reported in Visakhapatnam, a major city in north Coastal Andhra. About 140 fishermen, who all headed off a week ago, were reported to have been stranded off the Nellore coast. They were later on able to establish contact with their families and the Coast Guard successfully tried to rescue them. 3 were reportedly killed in Andhra Pradesh. On November 1, more than 200 boats ran aground due to strong winds.

As Nilam weakened, heavy rainfall continued affecting south coastal Andhra Pradesh, Rayalaseema and Telangana with heavy rains and flash flooding. The Kandaleru-Poondi part of the Telugu Ganga project near Gudur reportedly overflowed cutting transportation across the river. Several villages in and around Ongole were inundated by floodwater. Several poor in coastal villagers who depended only on fishing had lost access to food and clean drinking water as fishing was prohibited for over three days. TV9 reported that over 12,000 poor had remained hungry over the past three days and no government official had visited the storm affected villages despite the prolonged shortage of food and lack of electricity. Severe flooding had blocked transportation between Ongole and the villages, stranding the villagers

Tamil Nadu

The Chennai Port sounded a 'Danger 7' alarm and had sent off ships to outer sea to minimize damage when the storm made landfall. Madras Atomic Power Station, Kalpakkam officials stated that vigil was being maintained on all important equipment and the reactors are made to withstand winds up to 160 km/h (99 mph).The oil tanker MT Pratibha Cauvery ran aground near Chennai after drifting into the storm. One crew member was reported to be killed, with 5 others missing. 16 crew members had reportedly escaped. The state government later declared a holiday for all schools and colleges of coastal districts. Over eight people were killed on the first day itself, as the storm made landfall on Tamil Nadu.

Floodwater totally inundated 51,486 hectares of directly sown farmland and 13,421 hectares of transplanted farmland; and partially submerged 4,404 hectares of directly sown area and 12,189 hectares of transplanted area. During the storm, 3,150 people were evacuated and kept in cyclone shelters at Thalainayar and Keezhaiyur. Among the evacuees, 2,100 people were from Pirinchamoolai, Vandal and Gundooranvellir villages and were taken to community halls. The rest of the people were taken to the Thalainayar Government Higher Secondary School in Thalainayar. Some 54 km (34 mi) of municipality roads and 23 km (14 mi) of town panchayat roads were damaged by the rains. In Chennai, weather returned to normal. Schools and colleges in the city, however, remained closed for November 1 and 2. Residents gathered at the Santhome beach, observing the relief and rescue efforts made to help the victims of the MV Pratibha Cauvery. On November 2, One of the MT Pratibha Cauvery's five missing sailors' body was found in the sea waters near Chennai. Four others continued to be missing even after a second day of search and rescue efforts which included four ships, two helicopters and two Dornier aircraft.

A few hours later, a second body was found at the estuary of Adyar River. Reports revealed that the ship's captain had ignored instructions to leave for safe waters following the cyclone alert. As efforts continued, another body was found afloat at sea. The Tamil Nadu death toll rose to 11, as a result. Though three bodies out of five were found, they were all yet to be identified. M. Jayaraman, a senior disaster management official said that at-least 16 people were killed in rainfall-related events. This figure, along with the deaths of the MV Pratibha Cauvery incident sent the Tamil Nadu death toll up to 19. On November 3, the remaining two bodies from the MV Prathiba Cauvery incident were recovered, sending the death toll up to 21.

Sri Lanka

The storm brought torrential rains to Sri Lanka. The Puttalam — Mannar road had come under about a meter of water near Eluwankulama due to the overflowing of the Kala Oya River. A 27-year-old woman was killed when a sand rock fell on her house during heavy rains at Habaraduwa in Galle District, according to the police. Rail services were temporarily suspended when electricity lines fell on the railway track. Overall, 4,627 people were reportedly displaced due to the flooding and 56 people have left their homes in fear of landslides. Sri Lanka's Disaster Management Center said that about 1,000 houses were damaged by the storm. Across Sri Lanka, ten people were killed in events related to Cyclone Nilam.

Four more people were found dead in Andhra Pradesh, as two people were electrocuted near the New Port railway station in Kakinada. Another old woman was killed by hypothermia while a man was found dead under the debris of a broken wall. The death toll in the state went up to seven Rains in Andhra Pradesh inundated 76,980 hectares of cropland, most of which was paddy. As per reports, 449 electric poles were felled and 30 houses were damaged, out of which 16 houses were totally destroyed. In Hyderabad, heavy downpours from the cyclone's rainbands caused a six degree temperature drop. Trees were reportedly uprooted in the city's suburbs of SR Nagar, Shantinagar and Jaya Gardens near Malakpet. Four more people were found dead in Andhra Pradesh, as two people were electrocuted near the New Port railway station in Kakinada. Another old woman was killed by hypothermia while a man was found dead under the debris of a broken wall. 

 The death toll in the state went up to seven. Rains in Andhra Pradesh inundated 76,980 hectares of cropland, most of which was paddy. As per reports, 449 electric poles were felled and 30 houses were damaged, out of which 16 houses were totally destroyed. In Hyderabad, heavy downpours from the cyclone's rainbands caused a six degree temperature drop. Trees were reportedly uprooted in the city's suburbs of SR Nagar, Shantinagar and Jaya Gardens near Malakpet.