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Cyclone Vardah: At least two killed; thousands evacuated

Hundreds of people living along the sea coast have been evacuated to relief camps

Very severe cyclonic storm Cyclone Vardah has made its landfall near Chennai. The landfall is likely to complete in the next four hours. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu are keeping a close tab over the situation.

Indian Navy ships Shivalik and Kadmatt have been kept on standby to provide immediate assistance if required. One additional Indian Army column has also been placed on standby. A total of seven Army columns are currently on standby. Nearly 19 teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have also been deployed in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.

Meanwhile, all operations at the Chennai airport have been suspended till 9 pm today.

Hundreds of people living along the sea coast have been evacuated to relief camps. Heavy rains due to the influence of severe cyclonic storm Vardah continue to lash the area.

Helpline numbers:
Chennai – 044-25619206, 25619511, 25383694, 25367823, 25287570
Via Whatsapp – 9445477207, 9445477203, 9445477206, 9445477201, 9445477205,
Cuddalore, Puducherry & Nagapattinam- 1070 and 1077
Tiruvallur – 1070, 1077 and 044-27664177
Andhra Pradesh – 08662488000

Stay tuned for live updates and images from the ground:

5:15 pm: Home Minister Rajnath Singh speaks to Tamil Nadu CM O Panneerselvam regarding the situation in the aftermath of the cyclone

4:35 pm: At least two people have been killed in cyclone related incidents

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4:35 pm:Preventive measures have been taken and an advisory has been issued. People likely to be affected have been evacuated: Harsh Vardhan, Union Science & Tech Minister

4:00 pm:Some trees and electric poles have fallen due to that, NDRF has begun its operations to clear this: RK Pachnanda (DG, NDRF)

3:55 pm: The landfall was at Pulicat (Tamil Nadu) followed by strong winds: RK Pachnanda (DG, NDRF)

3:55 pm: Current wind speed near centre of Cyclone – 120-130 KMPH gusting to 140 KMPH.

3:45 pm: Complete landfall to take another couple of hours.Conditions to remain severe between Chennai & Nellore: K.G.Ramesh,DG IMD

3:40 pm: Ship that was sent to rescue two fishermen off Kakinada(AP) couldn’t reach them due to rough sea: AP Coast guard DIG Haribola

3:30 pm: Chennai Suburban network suspended till further notice.Some trains from/to Chennai diverted and cancelled: Railway Minister

2:45 pm: Very severe cyclonic storm Cyclone Vardah has made its landfall near Chennai. The landfall is likely to complete in the next four hours

## Navy ships Shivalik & Kadmatt have been kept on standby to provide immediate assistance if required

## One additional Indian Army column has also been placed on standby. Total Army columns now on standby is Seven.

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