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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:

Amazon Office Chennai !!!! Stay safe Friends !!!#CycloneVardah #Chennai #chennairains #Vardah #staysafechennai pic.twitter.com/Vrm5aKSs2m https://t.co/O0HFusX81J

— Adil Mishra (@AdilMishra1) December 12, 2016

#IndianArmy column on way to Ponneri Taluka, Thiruvallur distt for rescue & relief ops #CycloneVardah #Chennai pic.twitter.com/5GB7XdYASv

— ADG PI – INDIAN ARMY (@adgpi) December 12, 2016

#CycloneVardah DG CISF directs Chief Airport Security Officer to conduct a damage assessment exercise after #Cyclone hit Chennai Airport.

— We For News (@WeForNews) December 12, 2016

Cars floating on air… The mighty fury of #cyclonevardah pic.twitter.com/x2URayyCuV

— Ajay Rajagopal (@Jaitwits) December 12, 2016

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

Tamil Nadu Police has advised people to not park their vehicles near the trees #Chennai #cyclonevardah pic.twitter.com/McSsLyQHLC

— Shakil (@mshaks01) December 12, 2016

#CycloneVardah passing over #Chennai as very severe cyclone. Source – IMD pic.twitter.com/QFNkLgR2Hd

— NDMA India (@ndmaindia) December 12, 2016

Omg !!!#cyclonevardah #Basement #Chennai #chennairains #staysafechennai pic.twitter.com/2JskToK9PJ

— Harshavardhan (@Harsha_JTCBE) December 12, 2016

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

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

#CycloneVardah #Disasterresponse #DisasterRecovery #DisasterManagement #disasterreduction #nature #India pic.twitter.com/wka56LPh6e

— NDMA India (@ndmaindia) December 12, 2016

#WATCH: Heavy rainfall and storm lashes Chennai city as #CycloneVardah makes a landfall; trees uprooted, vehicles damaged in many parts pic.twitter.com/3wQ62KkVfs

— ANI (@ANI_news) December 12, 2016

Tamil Nadu: Heavy rainfall and storm lashes Chennai city as #CycloneVardah makes a landfall; trees uprooted, vehicles damaged in many parts pic.twitter.com/mDfaKPQ3An

— ANI (@ANI_news) December 12, 2016

#Vardahcyclone #cyclonevardah pic.twitter.com/r8mQl5GVxJ

— Dhawz (@dhawz) December 12, 2016

Calm returns. Winds stop, no rain

— Nirupama Subramanian (@tallstories) December 12, 2016

#cyclonevardah pic.twitter.com/1u7GMJ7rzM

— Kishor Kumar Jha (@JhaKKJ) December 12, 2016

Heavy damage at construction site.#cyclonevardah #Vardah #Vardahcyclone #chennaiweather #chennairains #PrayforChennai pic.twitter.com/ELRNdmD9HZ

— Santanu Roy (@roy_tweets4u) December 12, 2016

Tamil Nadu: Trees uprooted, damage caused as heavy rains and strong winds lash Mahabalipuram town in Kancheepuram district #CycloneVardah pic.twitter.com/0mpv0S39oS

— ANI (@ANI_news) December 12, 2016

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)

#cyclonevardah #Vardah #Vardahcyclone crosses chennai…latest radar shows it is spinning into North interior #TamilNadu#radar pic.twitter.com/KTX82n2L8W

— Krish (@FromUpAbove1) December 12, 2016

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

Heavy damage at construction site.#cyclonevardah #Vardah #Vardahcyclone #chennaiweather #chennairains #PrayforChennai pic.twitter.com/ELRNdmD9HZ

— Santanu Roy (@roy_tweets4u) December 12, 2016

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

My street, Besant Nagar. We keep passing under it. I hope those cables are of good quality. #cycloneVardah pic.twitter.com/XXr7dzcAdy

— Deepu (@deepusebastian) December 12, 2016

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

#cyclonevardah heavy wind 50 years old tree is almost gone … pic.twitter.com/aUzw06D77v

— Sathya neson (@sathyaneson) December 12, 2016

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

In chennai just now on beach road #cyclonevardah pic.twitter.com/1t5tYqvoby

— fairy Queen (@akri2000) December 12, 2016

Andhra Pradesh: Trees uprooted as heavy rains and strong winds lash Tada village #CycloneVardah pic.twitter.com/erDRqraVWf

— ANI (@ANI_news) December 12, 2016

(Don’t gimme a 100-crore fine). This is what India looks like, temperature wise today per Cameron Beccario’s tool. pic.twitter.com/OpxbHmxspU

— Rohan Venkat (@RohanV) May 18, 2016

#WATCH: Heavy rains and strong winds lash Tada village, Andhra Pradesh #CycloneVardah pic.twitter.com/DUHVCRQXtI

— ANI (@ANI_news) December 12, 2016

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

Cocos Nucifera holding strong so far but some coconuts have fallen pic.twitter.com/2m6BvsbJRF

— Krish Ashok (@krishashok) December 12, 2016

@SpokespersonMoD #cyclonevardah 30 Diving teams fully equipped standing by to be flown as required pic.twitter.com/WuFZOgkCyk

— SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) December 12, 2016

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

#Chennai after #CycloneVardah‘s rudhrathandavam!! pic.twitter.com/L72iUu0J2N

— Ariya vijay (@AriyaVijay) December 12, 2016

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

Deployed 6 teams in AP, 7 in TN, can handle any situation. Shifted ppl to safer places and educated them abt precautions: Santosh Kumar NDRF pic.twitter.com/a6rZsuy4X0

— ANI (@ANI_news) December 12, 2016

Sullurpeta (Andhra Pradesh): Crude oil tanker overturns due to strong winds & storm #cyclonevardah pic.twitter.com/PIxwhzTVn6

— ANI (@ANI_news) December 12, 2016