Cyclone Vardah Costs Tamil Nadu 16 Lives; Chennai Recovers Slowly
As the cyclone approaches the coast, The Tamil Nadu government has laid out a set of precautions for the people.
- Cyclone Vardah moves on to Karnataka
- Eighteen people have died, says the Tamil Nadu government
- Over 10,000 people have been evacuated
- Heavy rainfall likely over next 12 hours in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh
- Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu governments set up multiple emergency helplines to tackle the situation
- The army is conducting rescue and relief operations
- Power and telephone lines down in Chennai
Jet Airways on Tuesday announced that it will re-accommodate passengers who have been stranded due to Cyclone Vardah for free.
They expect things to return back to normal in the next five days, as the situation appears to be quite similar to last year.
The Tamil Nadu government said 16 people have died in rain-related incidents during Cyclone Vardah.
Chief Minister O Panneerselvam wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi requesting to depute a team to study extensive damages caused by the cyclonic storm.
A payment of Rs 1000 crores has been requested to enable immediate relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction measures to proceed expeditiously.
Vardah Increases Demonetisation Woes
Cyclone ‘Vardah’ has hit the currency supply to banks and ATMs in Tamil Nadu, aggravating the post-demonetisation woes of people already reeling under a severe cash crunch.
While several banks and ATMs are providing cash far below the allowed limit every now and then due to cash shortage, the damage caused by the cyclone has dealt a further blow with movement of cash vehicles coming to a grinding halt, resulting in empty ATMs.
Navy Ships Relief Material
INS Shivalik and INS Kadmatt entered Chennai this morning and are off-loading relief material for those afflicted by cyclone Vardah.
Chennai Struggles; Power and Telephone Lines Down
3384 trees have been uprooted and properties damaged in Chennai, as The News Minute reported.
All schools and colleges in the districts of Chennai, Kanchipuram, and Tiruvallur will remain closed on Tuesday. 3400 electric poles had fallen in the strong winds while 30 transformers suffered.
With several overhead electric lines damaged, train services continued to be disrupted on Tuesday. A number of trains from Chennai Central and Chennai Egmore were cancelled by Southern Railways while some were diverted.
MTC buses have, however, saved the day for a number of commuters operating services on Tuesday. Traffic too was largely normal in Chennai.
Constant Vigilance in Andhra
Heavy Rainfall Likely Over Next 12 Hours
The cyclonic activity from north Tamil Nadu has moved further west-southwestwards in the past six hours at a speed of 20 kmph, as reported by the National Disaster Management Authority.
Earlier, the NDMA reported that cyclone Vardah formed a deep depression over the northern interior of Tamil Nadu, and rainfall over the region as well as over South Karnataka is likely over the next 12 hours.
Fallen Trees, Billboards
Major landfall by the cyclone led to trees getting uprooted, billboards falling. Rescue and cleanup operations are underway.
Airports Resume Operations
After services were suspended at the Chennai airport at 11 pm on Monday night, the airport became operational by 7 am on Tuesday. G Chandramouli, the airport director also said that flight services began at 8:15 am with 39 aircrafts taking-off and landing.
Flight operations also resumed at the Tirupati airport after it was temporarily shut due to the cyclone on Monday.
Repairing the Damage
Nearly 300 roads have been damaged due to the cyclone and in the ongoing rescue operations, the NDRF distributed as many as 11,857 food packets to those affected, as reported by The Week.
NDRF teams in Tamil Nadu conduct relief and rescue operations in cyclone hit areas.
Cyclone Advances to Karnataka
Bengaluru will witness light showers, as cyclone Vardah advances toward Karnataka, as reported by ANI.
TN Govt Announces 4 Lakh Compensation
Tamil Nadu government has announced Rs 4 lakh compensation to the families of those who died due to Cyclone Vardah from the state disaster relief fund.
Vardah Claims Two More Lives
Cyclone Vardah claims two more lives, taking the total death toll to four. Two people have died in Chennai, one in Kancheepuram and one in Nagapattinam, reports news agency ANI.
The National Disaster Response Force has released a tally of the damage cause by the cyclone so far:
Cyclone Vardah to Pass Over Goa on 14 December
The cyclone is set to pass through south Goa on Wednesday, which will lead to a rise in temperature and light rain in the state from Tuesday onward.
HM Rajnath Speaks to O Panneerselvam
In the wake of cyclone Vardah wreaking havoc in Tamil Nadu, Home Minister Rajnath Singh speaks to Chief Minister O Panneerselvam to enquire about the situation in the state. He also assures all possible help.
Tamil Nadu Govt Issues Statement
Congress President Sonia Gandhi Sends Message
Army Brought in For Rescue Operations
Army personnel conduct rescue and relief operations in Chennai. Over 15 teams of NDRF have also been deployed in various coastal regions of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, where over 9,400 people living along the Bay of Bengal coast have been evacuated to relief camps amid heavy rains.
Sri Lankan Airlines Cancels All Flights to Chennai
Sri Lankan Airlines cancelled all flights to Chennai, officials say.
Airline spokesperson Deepal Perera says the Chennai International Airport is closed and the airline has cancelled all its flights till Tuesday morning, Xinhua news agency reports.
"A red alert has been issued," says Perera.
Authorities on Monday warn residents living along the coastal areas of northern Sri Lanka to be cautious as Vardah is moving away from the island nation towards southern India.
Govt Taking Precautions for Kalpakkam Nuclear Plant
Government takes necessary precautions for the safety of Kalpakkam nuclear power plant as Tamil Nadu faces cyclonic storm Vardah.
"All precautions are taken at nuclear plant Kalpakkam to face Vardah. So far all is well and plant operation is normal.”
“The plant is in touch with the India Meteorological Department," the National Disaster Management Authority says.
Almost 8,000 People Evacuated
The state government says that to minimise loss of life, almost 8,000 people have been evacuated from the areas hit by Vardah.
Civic authorities in Chennai have already cleared 89 of the 224 blocked roads in the city.
However, things don’t look to be getting any better as fresh reports suggest that services of the Chennai Suburban railway network have been suspended until further notice.
Cyclone Vardah Makes Landfall in Chennai
Cyclone Vardah makes landfall in Chennai, news agency ANI reported. The landfall would be complete in four hours.
Outer periphery of the Vardah cyclone has touched the Chennai coast. Strong winds and heavy rainfall are being experienced in several parts of Chennai causing damage to property. Major traffic congestion in parts of the city has also been experienced.
Operations Halted at Chennai Airport
All operations at the Chennai airport have been suspended till 9 pm, according to reports.
Army on Standby as Cyclone to Hit By 1:30 PM
“Vardah is lying low and is at 87 kms east of Bay of Bengal. It is moving in a westward direction and is expected to make landfall close to Chennai between 2 and 4 pm,” MeT Director S Balachandran says.
According to the Navy, however, the cyclone will make a landfall by 1:30 pm.
“Two ships of Navy Shivalik and Kadmatt already in northern area to render immediate assistance if required,” Navy chief PRO captain DK Sharma says.
As many as 113 ambulances have been put on standby in a case of emergency. The Tamil Nadu government has evacuated more than 7,000 people to 54 relief centres.
Seven army columns are ready and on standby for rescue and relief operations, sources in the Army say.
Of Uprooted Trees and Heavy Rainfall
Trains, Flights Take a Hit
The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) issues a warning saying that the current wind speed of the cyclone is 50-60 kmph and during the landfall, it will be 100-110 kmph.
Storm Likely to Cross Chennai By Afternoon
Stay Indoors: Tamil Nadu Government’s Advisory
The Tamil Nadu government has laid out a set of advisory for the people:
- Stay indoors during the heavy rains and not allow children to venture out, to swim or play in water bodies and stagnant water.
- Stock adequate food items, medicines and drinking water at home and use them judiciously. Keep overhead tanks particularly in multi-storied buildings filled up, so as to plan for the contingency of power disruption due to rain.
- Keep emergency lights and mobile phones charged. Stock adequate quantities of candles and matches.
- Go to relief centres as and when advised to do so by officials.
- Avoid using personal vehicle, like two-wheelers and cars during the cyclone.
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