New Delhi: Cyclonic storm Vardah, which was earlier expected to weaken considerably, may not see its intensity going down when it makes landfall near Chennai on Monday. According to the Cyclone Warning Division of the India Meteorological Department, (IMD), Vardah, which is currently, a very severe cyclonic storm, will weaken, but only to a severe cyclonic storm.
Cyclone Vardah over Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.
The earlier forecast made by the IMD was that it would weaken into a cyclonic storm, thereby reducing its intensity considerably. At 9.30 am, the cyclone was lay centered around 105 kms east-northeast of Chennai.
By the time it makes a landfall, its wind speed is expected to be 100-110 kilometres per hours with winds gusting up to 120 kmph. The wind speed during a very severe cyclonic storm is 120 to 130 kmph. In a severe cyclonic storm the wind speed is somewhere between 110 to 80 kilometres per hour. One of the major reasons for destruction in any cyclone is the wind velocity, apart from heavy to heavy rains and flooding.
Rainfall at most places with isolated heavy to very heavy falls over south coastal Andhra Pradesh, north coastal Tamil Nadu and Puducherry is very likely during 36 hrs. 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 centimetres) over Chennai, Thiruvallur and Kanchipuram districts of Tamil Nadu and Nellore and Prakasam districts of Andhra Pradesh on 12 December, the IMD said.
Tidal wave of about one metre height above the astronomical tide is very likely to inundate the low lying areas of Chennai, Thiruvallur and Kanchipuram districts of Tamil Nadu and Nellore districts of Andhra Pradesh during the time of landfall.
With inputs from PTI
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Updated Date: Dec 13, 2016 18:37:28 IST
Highlights
Blue Cross Society asks for help
In a Facebook post, the Blue Cross society in Chennai said that the organisation has been severly affected by cyclone and they need help urgently.
"Please come down to the shelter directly to help and if you can deliver the supplies to No 72 Vellachery Main Road , Guindy or call into 044 22300666 or 9789096602."
Mobile medical camps in Chennai
Tamil Nadu health minister C Vijay Baskar flagged off medical camp vehicles to all zones in Chennai from Omundurar multi-speciality hospital. These vehicles will travel across the city and help people with fever and water-borne disease.
Fighting Cyclone Vardah
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has instructed the revenue, police and state disaster response force & other departmens not to lower their guard against cyclone Vardah.
NDMA puts out a list of dos and donts after Vardah
Tweeting out a list of dos and donts during cyclone. Starting with "do not enter damaged areas" to "listen to the advice of authorities", National Disaster Management Authority's list is aimed at helping residents of Chennai who have been hit by the cyclone.
According to reports, flight services have been resumed since today morning.
Skeletal services in Chennai suburban resumes
Worst is probably over: DG IMD
DG of Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) tells CNN-News18 that the worst is probably over and a clear picture will be out in 1.5 hours.
Cyclone Vardah to weaken
Cyclone Vardah shows signs of weakening; to turn into 'cyclonic storm' in next 3-4 hours, reports PTI.
TN govt requests people not to venture out
The Tamil Nadu government asks people not to go out of their houses between 1 pm to 4 pm.
LIVE NEWS and UPDATES
17:39 (IST)
17:11 (IST)
15:26 (IST)
15:26 (IST)
14:51 (IST)
Day after Vardah: Chennai feels like a forest
Chennaities woke up to uprooted trees, big broken branches blocking the roads, fallen name boards, hoardings, damaged compound walls and vehicles under fallen trees, power cut and lack of milk supplies on Tuesday, a day after severe cyclone Vardah ripped through the city.
People in the residential localities after being awed by the damage caused by the cyclone started cleaning their compound of fallen trees, leaves and other muck that was blown by the cyclonic winds.
"It is as if we are in the midst of a forest," quipped A Viswanath, a businessman surveying the fallen trees in his locality.
In a statement issued on Monday, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam said over 4,000 trees fell.
According to citizens, the number could be much more if one takes into account the trees inside the residential compounds.
While the authorities have cleared the main roads of fallen trees for traffic, it would take a couple of days for them to clear the trees in the residential areas.
IANS
14:48 (IST)
14:40 (IST)
14:10 (IST)
Blue Cross Society asks for help
In a Facebook post, the Blue Cross society in Chennai said that the organisation has been severly affected by cyclone and they need help urgently.
"Please come down to the shelter directly to help and if you can deliver the supplies to No 72 Vellachery Main Road , Guindy or call into 044 22300666 or 9789096602."
14:06 (IST)
INS Shivalik and INS Kadmatt deployed at Bay of Bengal
ANI also reports that air services have resumed at Chennai airport
13:46 (IST)
Roads get cleared
Anna Salai, Kamarajar Salai, Poonamallee High road etc are just some of the roads that have been cleared after Cyclone Vardah made landfall in Chennai, tweeted the Tamil Nadu State Disaster Management Agency.
13:29 (IST)
Day after: Chennai limps back to normalcy
13:14 (IST)
Two die in Andhra Pradesh
Two persons were killed overnight in Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh due to cyclone Vardah as heavy rains lashed the region, officials said.
Nellore and Prakasam districts of south coastal Andhra and Chittoor, Kadapa and Anantapur districts of Rayalaseema region felt impact of the cyclone which crossed Tamil Nadu coast on Monday.
With input from IANS
13:06 (IST)
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister extends support and sympathies to Vardah victims
13:00 (IST)
Mobile medical camps in Chennai
Tamil Nadu health minister C Vijay Baskar flagged off medical camp vehicles to all zones in Chennai from Omundurar multi-speciality hospital. These vehicles will travel across the city and help people with fever and water-borne disease.
12:56 (IST)
Fighting Cyclone Vardah
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has instructed the revenue, police and state disaster response force & other departmens not to lower their guard against cyclone Vardah.
12:55 (IST)
Chief Minister O Panneerselvam reviews relief and rehabilitation measures with senior bureaucrats
12:34 (IST)
Chennai limps back to normalcy
A day after Cyclone Vardah ripped through Chennai, the city presented a scene of devastation with thousands of uprooted trees, broken billboards and snapped telephone and power cables besides low-lying areas reporting waterlogging. Flight operations resumed on Tuesday morning in the storm-hit city which was limping back to normalcy.
However, with the rains having abated since morning, people came out on the streets and some of them queued up at roadside tea stalls. Office-goers were seen waiting at bus stops and railway stations with few services being operated.
Southern Railway said skeletal services resumed in the MMC, Sulurpettah/Arakkonam section while that on the busy Tambaram-Chengalpattu route were yet to be operated. Flight operations, which were suspended at the Chennai airport, have resumed. "Flight operations have resumed at Chennai airport today morning," Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju tweeted.
With inputs from PTI
12:26 (IST)
NDMA puts out a list of dos and donts after Vardah
Tweeting out a list of dos and donts during cyclone. Starting with "do not enter damaged areas" to "listen to the advice of authorities", National Disaster Management Authority's list is aimed at helping residents of Chennai who have been hit by the cyclone.
According to reports, flight services have been resumed since today morning.
10:57 (IST)
Skeletal services in Chennai suburban resumes
10:54 (IST)
DMK member J Anbazhagan lauded the efforts of the rescue forces
10:53 (IST)
A resident posted photos from Panagal Park - a residential area in Chennai.
10:51 (IST)
Power will be restored in Chennai today: AIADMK
The electricity minister of Tamil Nadu said that power will be restored in Chennai by Tuesday evening.
10:50 (IST)
10:50 (IST)
10:49 (IST)
Vardah might make a landfall in Karnataka and Goa tomorrow
Reports said that the cyclone might make a landfall in Karnataka and Goa.
09:59 (IST)
09:27 (IST)
Rainfall over North Interior Tamil Nadu and adjoining South Karnataka likely in next 12 hours: NDMA
09:22 (IST)
09:16 (IST)
Cyclone to weaken as a low-pressure area in next 6 hours: NDMA
08:44 (IST)
08:20 (IST)
Death toll rises to 10 in Tamil Nadu: ANI
08:19 (IST)
Schools, colleges and other educational institutions to remain closed today; Chennai Airport now operational
08:17 (IST)
08:14 (IST)
More than 10,000 people rescued by NDRF
More than 10,000 people were rescued and sheltered by the National Disaster Response Force in nearly 300 relief camps.
The cyclone flattened homes, snapped communication lines and threw into disarray rail, road and air traffic as it crossed the coast near Chennai, Tiruvallur and Kanchipuram with heavy rain and squall.
The National Disaster Management Authority said that a total of 10,432 people were rescued by 19 NDRF teams in different parts of Tamil Nadu as the severe cyclone hit the state.
As many as 296 relief camps were set up of which 97 have become operational, the NDMA said in a statement.
Altogether 11,857 food packets were also distributed by the NDRF. As many as 297 roads were blocked in Tamil Nadu after the cyclone's landfall of which 89 were cleared so far.
With inputs from PTI
21:10 (IST)
21:07 (IST)
Centre cautions Tamil Nadu
The Union Ministry of Water Resources on Monday advised the Tamil Nadu government to maintain strict vigil at lakes in the districts expecting heavy rainfall from cyclonic storm Vardah.
In an advisory to the state government, the ministry said: "In view of the expected heavy to very heavy rainfall... in the districts of Chennai, Kanchipuram and Thiruvallur, along with very severe cyclonic storm Vardah... good inflows are likely into the reservoirs of Poondi, Chembarampakkam and other lakes around the Chennai city."
"As the lakes are not full, the inflows shall increase the levels in the reservoirs considerably. The state government has been advised to maintain strict vigil at all the lakes in case of exceptionally heavy rainfall," the advisory added.
IANS
20:36 (IST)
19:56 (IST)
19:55 (IST)
19:54 (IST)
19:46 (IST)
19:34 (IST)
19:21 (IST)
Vardah spares Andhra Pradesh
Severe cyclonic storm Vardah spared Andhra Pradesh from any major destruction today but heavy rains in Chittoor and SPS Nellore districts affected normal life under its influence even as official machinery continues to be on alert with forecast of heavy downpour in next 24 hours in at least four districts. Over 9,400 people living along the Bay of Bengal coast in SPS Nellore district were evacuated to relief camps earlier in the day as Vardah was set to make landfall between Sriharikota and Chennai.
PTI
19:19 (IST)
18:46 (IST)
Worst is probably over: DG IMD
DG of Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) tells CNN-News18 that the worst is probably over and a clear picture will be out in 1.5 hours.
18:39 (IST)
Sonia Gandhi expresses concern
Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Monday expressed concern over the hardships people of Tamil Nadu faced due to cyclone Vardah which killed two people. "As cyclone Vardah crosses the coast and hits Chennai, we watch anxiously and pray as the city braces itself to withstand the force of nature's fury.
"We trust the administration will take all precautions for the safety of the citizens during this time of hardship. I am sure the people of Chennai and Tamil Nadu will show the nation the same courage with which they faced a similar calamity last year. Entire Congress party stands firmly by them," she said.
- IANS
18:29 (IST)
Cyclone Vardah to weaken
Cyclone Vardah shows signs of weakening; to turn into 'cyclonic storm' in next 3-4 hours, reports PTI.
18:24 (IST)
Milk supply normal, no change on Tuesday: Aavin
Milk supply to Cyclone Vardah-hit Chennai, Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur districts was not affected on Monday and will be normal on Tuesday, informed state-run Tamil Nadu Cooperative Milk Producers' Federation Ltd, as it had taken steps for normal distribution.
The Federation, popularly known as Aavin, said its dairy farms in Madhavaram, Ambattur and Sholinganallur are operating with generators and milk was supplied to its outlets and to residences across the city on Monday as usual.
Through the steps taken by Federation, the daily requirement of 11.50 lakh litres will be supplied on Tuesday, an official release said. It asked customers who do not receive milk to call toll free number 18004253300.
PTI
18:20 (IST)
Meenambakkam records 177mm rainfall
According to Skymet Weather, Vardah, which has made landfall, has caused heavy rains in Chennai.
As of 2.30 pm, the Nungambakkam Observatory has recorded 99 mm of rain, while Meenambakkam Observatory received a whopping 177 mm of rainfall.
18:14 (IST)
Army column en route to Thiruvallur