Outer periphery of Cyclone Vardah touched Chennai coast at around 2:15 pm on Monday. Strong winds caused heavy damage, as several trees were uprooted. Heavy traffic jams reported in parts of the city.
A high alert has been sounded across the two states and disaster management teams like NDRF, Indian Navy and Indian Airforce have deployed their units to manage the situation.
During the next 36 hours, rainfall would occur at many places over north coastal Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry, Chennai, Tiruvallur.
Also read | How to protect yourself when Cyclone Vardah hits
Highlights of preparations for the cyclone
Schools closed: In view of the approaching storm, the Tamil Nadu government declared holiday for educational institutions in Chennai, Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur, besides coastal taluks of Villupuram.
Indian Navy on high alert:
Indian Air Force on high alert:
Also read | Storm may not weaken when it makes landfall near Chennai
Helpline numbers:
Chennai Corporation: 25619206, 25619511, 25384965, 25383694, 25367823, 25387570
Grievances can also be sent via Whatsapp to: 94454 77207, 94454 77203, 94454 77206 , 94454 77201, 94454 77205
Puducherry: 1077, 1070
Cuddalore: 1077, 04142 220700, 231666
Here are the live updates:
9:53 pm: Rs 4 lakh will be given to family members of those who died due to #CycloneVardah from state disaster relief fund - TN CM O. Panneerselvam
9:34 pm: Services at Chennai Airport suspended till 11 PM
8:01pm: Hut Damages-47, No of tree fallen- 3384 and 696 removed. No of Electricity Board Poles fallen-3400: NDMA
8:00pm: 4 people died (2 in Chennai, 1 in Kancheepuram and 1 in Nagapattinam): National Disaster Management Authority
7:40pm:
7:00pm:
6:40pm: Winds and rains might still intensify. DO NOT venture out: National Disaster Management Authority
6:20pm:
6:10pm: Services at Chennai Airport suspended till 2100 hrs
5:21pm: HM Rajnath Singh speaks to TN CM O Panneerselvam enquiring about situation of cyclone crossing Chennai,Tiruvallur
5:11pm: DG CISF directs Chief Airport Security Officer to conduct a damage assessment exercise after Cyclone hit Chennai Airport
5:10pm: 07 NDRF Teams, 02 SDRF Teams and 02 Army Columns deployed for precautionary measures in Tamil Nadu: NDMA
5:07pm: 2 persons died. 24 huts damaged. 8008 people accommodated in 95 relief camps: National Disaster Management Authority
5:03pm:
5:01pm: No fisherman's life has been lost till now. All precautionary steps being taken: Tamil Nadu Government
4:32pm:
4:11pm:
4:09pm:
4:09pm: Entire landfall process will be completed during next 1-2 hrs but conditions to remain rough even after that: National Disaster Management Authority
4:08pm: Expected point of landfall - Crossing coast near Chennai: National Disaster Management Authority
4:02pm:
4:00pm: Some trees and electric poles have fallen due to that, NDRF has begun its operations to clear this: RK Pachnanda
3:58pm:
3:53pm:
3:43pm: Complete landfall to take another couple of hours. Conditions to remain severe between Chennai & Nellore: K.G.Ramesh,DG IMD
3:42pm: Ship that was sent to rescue two fishermen off Kakinada(AP) couldn't reach them due to rough sea: AP Coast guard DIG Haribola
3:40pm: Chennai Suburban network suspended till further notice.Some trains from/to Chennai diverted and cancelled: Railway Minister
3:32pm:
3:20pm:
3:17pm: Chennai Suburban railway network suspended till further notice. Some trains reaching & leaving Chennai diverted & cancelled. Senior officials camping at stations & control room: ADG(PR) Railways, Anil Saxena
3:15pm: Total 176 relief camps are set up and 95 have been filled until now with nearly 8008 people. 10,754 food packets distributed
2:20pm:
2:15pm: IMD confirms Cyclone Vardah is making landfall, it will cross Chennai in the next four hours
1:35pm: 22 diving teams have been kept standby at Visakhapatnam for immediate deployment, should the situation warrant
1:35pm: Cyclone Vardah update: Time of landfall - between 1400-1700 ; Now 30 kms from Chennai
1:25pm: Cyclone Vardah's distance from Chennai - 50 KM
1:24pm:
1:20pm: Current wind speed near centre of cyclone -120-130 KMPH gusting to 140 KMPH; Expected point of landfall - near Chennai
1:18pm:
1:15pm:
12:42pm: Evacuation: 7357 people are evacuated to 54 relief centres safely so far
12:40pm: Six Indian Army columns on standby for rescue & relief ops
12:35pm: Alert at Kalpakkam Nuclear plant. Authorities secure N-Plant
12:20pm: Two ships of Indian Navy - Shivalik & Kadmatt positioned north of area to render immediate assistance if required. The ships are carrying adequate bricks of HADR material, doctors, divers, food, water, blankets, to sustain 5000 people at first go: Navy chief PRO captain DK Sharma
12:20pm: Winds have picked up speeds up to/ in excess of 150kmph; likely to make landfall by 1330h; as per speed of advance recorded; Navy chief PRO captain DK Sharma
12:05pm: Cyclone Vardha is about 61 km east-northeast of Chennai at noon, likely to make landfall in next couple of hours: IMD
11:30am: All precautions taken at Nuclear Power Plant-Kalpakkam to face Vardah. All well and plant operation normal. Plant is in touch with IMD: NDMA
10:57am: District Admin is looking after the evacuation part, 13 teams are ready to tackle the after effects: P Dhar, Comdt 10th Bn, NDRF
10:52am:
10:50am: Total 176 relief camps are set up, nearly 400 people have reached camps
10:35am: 25 flights diverted, 9 delayed and 5 cancelled so far from Chennai
10:15am: Four flights diverted because of cyclone Vardah
10:00am: Fishermen are advised not to venture into sea along and off south Andhra Pradesh, north Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coasts during next 36 hrs: NDMA
9:40am: Wind warning: Currently, wind speed is 50-60 kmph & during landfall it will be 100-110 kmph. Storm surge: About 1 mtr height #vardah : NDMA
9:30am: Andhra Pradesh: Four teams have been deployed in Nellore. We are fully equipped & prepared: Pawan Kumar, Sub Inspector, NDRF
9:00am: 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
9:00am: The system is very likely to move nearly westwards & weaken gradually while moving towards north TN & adjoining south AP coasts:NDMA
9:00am: There are 6 teams in Andhra Pradesh and 8 teams in Tamil Nadu & Puducherry: SP Selvan, DIG NDRF
9:00am: Cyclonic storm Vardah lays over west central and southwest Bay of Bengal; It moved further nearly west-southwest-wards during past 06 hrs
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