
As Cyclone 'Vardah' made landfall at Tamil Nadu and Chennai, two persons were killed as heavy rains accompanied by high velocity winds pounded the city and coastal districts of north Tamil Nadu.
Vardah uprooted hundreds of trees, disrupted land and air transport and threw normal life out of gear. "The landfall process of cyclone Vardah has begun," the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.
According to M Mohapatra, Additional Director General (Services) of IMD, the "eye" of the Cyclone is 20 km off Chennai.
"The wind speed near Chennai 90-100 kmph. Heavy rains and storm surge is expected. Landfall process has commenced at 2 pm. The cyclone will cross between 2-5 pm," Mohapatra said.
Tamil Nadu has announced a holiday for schools and colleges in Chennai, Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur, and parts of Villupuram. According to MeT director S Balachandran, "During the next 36 hours, rainfall would occur at many places over north coastal Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry, Chennai, Tiruvallur."
Live updates:
- Govt aided, private schools, colleges & other educational institutions in Chennai, Kanchipuram and Tiruvallur are to remain closed tommorrow.
- According to an NDMA update, 4 people have died so far in the Vardah impact - 2 in Chennai, 1 in Kancheepuram and 1 in Nagapattinam.
- Wind speed will gradually decrease to 60-70 KMPH during next 3 hours, says M Mohapatra, ADG of the India Meteorological Department
- Chennai Airport to remain shut till 8 pm, reports India Today.
- 7 NDRF Teams, 2 SDRF Teams and 2 Army Columns have been deployed for precautionary measures in Tamil Nadu, says the NDMA
- 24 huts damaged in the 8008 people accommodated in 95 relief camps.
#CycloneVardah: NDRF teams conducting relief and rescue operations in Tamil Nadu pic.twitter.com/6Segf9mHKh
— ANI (@ANI_news) December 12, 2016
Tiruvallur (Tamil Nadu): People evacuated to safer places by concerned authorities in view of #cyclonevardah pic.twitter.com/ffqhIdEQDA
— ANI (@ANI_news) December 12, 2016
- Union Science and Technology Minister Harsh Vardhan says that preventive measures have already been taken and advisory has been issued. Affected people to be evacuated.
- With heavy rainfall lashing through the city, army personnel deployed in Chennai to conduct rescue and relief operations.
- Chennai faces the ire of Vardah, as heavy rainfall and storm lashes through the city, leaving trees uprooted and vehicles damaged.
#WATCH: Heavy rainfall and storm lashes Chennai city as #CycloneVardah makes a landfall; trees uprooted, vehicles damaged in many parts pic.twitter.com/3wQ62KkVfs
— ANI (@ANI_news) December 12, 2016
#CycloneVardah Massive damage caused in parts of Chennai as heavy rainfall and storm results in uprooting of trees pic.twitter.com/IbrR7LtoDU
— ANI (@ANI_news) December 12, 2016
- Entire landfall process will be completed during the next 1-2 hours, but conditions to remain rough even after that, says National Disaster Management Authority.
- The landfall was at Pulicat (Tamil Nadu) followed by strong winds, says RK Pachnanda, DG of NDRF.
- Some trees and electric poles have fallen in the impact of the storm. NDRF has begun its operations to clear this, he added.
The landfall was at Pulicat (Tamil Nadu) followed by strong winds: RK Pachnanda (DG, NDRF) #CycloneVardah pic.twitter.com/jBEVb8ttni
— ANI (@ANI_news) December 12, 2016
- The leading edge of the storm is heading inland and the wind speed is currently considerably less. The trailing edge of the storm shold hit soon, reports the Navy.
- Conditions to remain severe between Chennai & Nellore. The complete landfall will take another couple of hours, says K.G.Ramesh,DG IMD.
- Northern prong of cyclone hit North of Chennai 20 minutes back. Heavy rains and high speed winds expected to continue for next 8-12 hours
- Wind speed at present around 100-110 km/hour. Chennai recorded maximum wind speed of 192 kmph: M Mahapatra, ADG MeT Dept
- Cyclone Vardah has commenced landfall in Chennai,it is in process and will take more than two hours to complete: M Mahapatra, ADG MeT Dept
- Operations at Chennai airport suspended till 6 pm.
- Cyclone Vardah makes landfall in Chennai, landfall would be complete in four hours
- Cyclone Vardah is presently 30 Kms East-Northeast of Chennai: National Disaster Management Authority
- Sullurpeta (Andhra Pradesh): Crude oil tanker overturns due to strong winds & storm
Sullurpeta (Andhra Pradesh): Crude oil tanker overturns due to strong winds & storm #cyclonevardah pic.twitter.com/PIxwhzTVn6
— ANI (@ANI_news) December 12, 2016
- Outer periphery of Vardah touches Chennai coast, strong winds cause heavy damage,trees uprooted. Heavy traffic jams in parts of the city
- Eight fishermen belonging to Tamil Nadu were rescued from the sea near the Sriharikota High Altitude Range.
- Over 9,400 people living along the Bay of Bengal coast in SPS Nellore district of Andhra Pradesh were today evacuated to relief camps.
- All operations at the Chennai airport suspended till 3 pm today.
- Naval aircraft also standing by at the Naval Air Stations Rajali & Dega to be pressed into action to augment HADR ops: Navy
- One Survey ship has been kept standby to undertake harbour survey in case of requirement: Navy.
- 22 diving teams have been kept standby at Visakhapatnam for immediate deployment, should the situation warrant.
- In addition to 10 diving teams embarked on IN Ships Shivalik & Kadmatt, 6 diving teams readied up for immediate deployment.
- Cyclone Vardah 50 km from Chennai now: NDMA
- Request people not to venture out of their houses between 1 pm to 4 pm: Tamil Nadu Government
- Seven army columns ready and on standby for rescue and relief operations, say army sources.
- 7,357 people are evacuated to 54 relief centres safely so far: TN Government.
- Two ships of Navy Shivalik and Kadmatt already in north of area likely to be affected to render immediate assistance if required: Navy chief PRO
- Massive uprooting of trees reported, Cyclone Vardah likely to make landfall by 1:30 pm: Navy chief PRO captain DK Sharma
Tamil Nadu: Trees uprooted, damage caused in parts of Chennai #cyclonevardah pic.twitter.com/pLFzVJQxvj
— ANI (@ANI_news) December 12, 2016
- Tidal wave will be one meter high, people advised to be in safe places and stick to instructions given by government: MeT Director
- Vardah lying now 87 kms east of Bay of Bengal, moving in westward direction and is expected to make land fall close to Chennai between 2-4 PM, says MeT Director.
- Heavy rainfall and storm in Meenambakkam,Chennai.
#Watch: Heavy rainfall and storm in Meenambakkam,Chennai (Tamil Nadu) #cyclonevardah pic.twitter.com/EpNKl20S7T
— ANI (@ANI_news) December 12, 2016
- Rain and strong winds lash Chennai airport.
Tamil Nadu: Rain and strong winds lash Chennai (Visuals from Chennai Airport) #cyclonevardah pic.twitter.com/tnjnanktyy
— ANI (@ANI_news) December 12, 2016
- Due to cyclonic weather over Chennai airport, flights are diverted and departures are delayed.
- People living in Ennore and Palaverkadu have been asked to evacuate by Tamil Nadu government.
- District Administration is looking after the evacuation. Thirteen teams are ready to tackle the after effects: P Dhar, Comdt 10th Bn, NDR
- The cyclonic storm is moving with a speed of 13 kmph. A high alert has already been sounded Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu and teams of NDRF are gearing up as cyclone Vardah is expected to hit southern coast. The alert has been sounded in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu along the coast of Bay of Bengal.
- Currently, wind speed is 50-60 kmph and during landfall it will be 100-110 kmph. Storm surge to be about 1 meter height: NDMA
- One of the four NDRF teams deployed in Nellore district of Andhra Pradesh.
- Andhra Pradesh: Four teams have been deployed in Nellore. We are fully equipped & prepared: Pawan Kumar, Sub Inspector, NDRF
- There will be heavy rains during day time. Wind speed is likely to be high but as the day progress it may reduce: DIG NDRF
#WATCH: Rain lashes Chennai-MeT says #CycloneVardah is moving westward towards Chennai, likely to cross near Chennai this afternoon pic.twitter.com/FVXrxFgAJl
— ANI (@ANI_news) December 12, 2016
- There are 6 teams in Andhra Pradesh and 8 teams in Tamil Nadu & Puducherry: SP Selvan, DIG NDRF
- MeT says Cyclone Vardah is moving westward towards Chennai, likely to cross near Chennai this afternoon.
First published: 12 December 2016, 10:34 IST