Cyclone Vardah to Make Landfall Today, Indian Navy Prepares Ships

Cyclone Vardah is likely to make landfall north of Chennai in the afternoon or evening of 12 December.

The Eastern Naval Command (ENC) is all geared up to carry out relief operations, as cyclone 'Vardah' is likely to make landfall near Chennai on Monday, the Indian Navy said.

Cyclone Vardah's severe cycle is around 450 km east-north-east of Chennai and is likely to make landfall north of Chennai on the afternoon or evening of 12 December.

“In preparation for the relief efforts of very severe cyclone Vardah, the Eastern Naval Command has assumed high degree of readiness to render necessary assistance,” said an Indian Navy statement in New Delhi on Sunday.

"All operational ships have been readied and kept on standby to undertake humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) operations, including evacuation, should the situation demand," the Indian Navy said.

The ships are embarked with additional divers, doctors, inflatable rubber boats, integral helicopters and relief material that include food, tentage, clothes, medicines and blankets, among other things, in quantities sufficient to sustain over 5,000 people.

"Additionally, 30 diving teams with Gemini boats and four platoons with additional relief material are ready to be pressed into action at a short notice," the navy said.

Eight NDRF teams were prepositioned in TN – Three in Chennai, Two in Kanchipuram, Two in Tiruvallur, one in Puducherry – to monitor the situation in different places, the DG of NDRF RK Pachnanda said.

The Tamil Nadu government has urged people to take all precautions.

Here is the advisory:

1. Stay indoors during the heavy rains and not allow children to venture out, to swim or play in water bodies and stagnant water.
2. 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.
3. Keep emergency lights and mobile phones charged. Stock adequate quantities of candles and matches.
4. Go to relief centres as and when advised to do so by officials.
5. Avoid using personal vehicle like two wheelers and cars during the cyclone.

The press release issues also stated that senior IAS officers appointed as Monitoring Officers for Chennai, Kancheepuram, Thiruvallur and Villupuram to be present in the districts to oversee and monitor cyclone related works in close coordination with the District Collectors.

(With inputs from IANS and ANI.)