After IMD alerted about cyclonic storm Vardah, the storm has hit the Chennai coast at around 14.50 pm with the wind speed of 110-120 kmph on Monday noon.
Due to which, two persons were killed as heavy rains followed by high-velocity winds hit Chennai on Monday.
“Cyclone Vardah has commenced landfall in Chennai, it is in the process and will take more than 2 hours to complete,” said M Mahapatra, the ADG of MeT Dept.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu asked the Nellore district administration to empty people living in 255 low-lying areas to safer places as even the district has started getting rainfall since morning.
"Food and other essential commodities have been kept ready in adequate quantities", said Naidu. He also added that "fishermen should not venture out to sea for the next 36 hours."
The Tamil Nadu government also advised people not to leave their homes until 4 pm.
So far 7357 people have been evacuated to 54 relief centres safely in Tamil Nadu. Over 9,400 people have been evacuated from along the Bay of Bengal coast in SPS Nellore district of Andhra Pradesh.
"10 diving teams have embarked on ships Shivalik and Kadmat", the Navy said.
Moreover, 22 diving teams were kept on standby at Visakhapatnam for quick deployment.
"The police and CISF personnel are on the job and all the ten fishermen are safe. But they are somehow reluctant to come to the shore. We will soon bring them out," Nellore Superintendent of Police Vishal Gunni told PTI over phone.
"We have already moved over 9,400 persons in seven vulnerable manuals to safety. All necessary measures have been taken to ensure the safety of people," Municipal Administration Minister P Narayana said.
30 persons were shifted from Sullurpeta mandal in Nellore district to a relief camp this morning.
The South Central Railway also had to cancel some passenger trains traveling between Sullurpeta and Chennai because of the cyclone.
The Vijayawada-Chennai-Vijayawada Pinakini Express was diverted via Renigunta and Arrakkonam. Some other Express trains were also diverted which were traveling to Chennai route via Arrakkonam.
Even operations at Chennai airport were suspended till 6 pm.
"The rainfall intensity will increase gradually becoming heavy to very heavy rainfall (7-19 cm) at a few places and isolated extremely heavy rainfall (20 cm) over Chennai, Thiruvallur and Kanchipuram districts of Tamil Nadu and Nellore and Prakasam districts of Andhra Pradesh on December 12", the IMD said.
(Video Source: TV9 Telugu)
Cyclone Storm Vardah to Bring Rains Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh on High Alert
BY M. DIVYA SRI
