Cyclone Vardah: As it happened

#CycloneVardah #Update Total number of deaths = 10 (4 in Chennai, 2 each in Kancheepuram,Tiruvallur, 1 each in Villupuram Nagapattinam)

— NDMA India (@ndmaindia) December 12, 2016

Centre, @ndmaindia is working closely with local administrations & army for safety of life and property.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 12, 2016

My prayers are with all those people who are affected due to adverse weather conditions caused by #CycloneVardah. Stay safe.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 12, 2016

Rs 4 lakh each will be given to persons who died due to Cyclone Vardah from the state disaster relief fund, says Tamil Nadu CM Panneerselvam.

#CycloneVardah #Update going to weaken into a deep depression after midnight. Currently still a cyclone over North Tamil Nadu.

— NDMA India (@ndmaindia) December 12, 2016

#AIUpdate: Due to Chennai airfield closure#AI 043 (MAA-DEL)#AI 093 (MAA-BOM)
Flts stand cancelled for 12/12/16

— Air India (@airindiain) December 12, 2016

#AIUpdate: #Chennai airfield to remain closed till 2300 hrs of 12/12/16

— Air India (@airindiain) December 12, 2016

#AIUpdate: Due airfield closure#AI 766 /765 (MAA-CCU)#AI 905 /906 (MAA-DXV)#AI 907 /908 (MAA-MCT)
Flts stand cancelled for 12/12/16

— Air India (@airindiain) December 12, 2016

Schools and colleges in Chennai, Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur to remain shut on Tuesday.

Quick Facts:
Cyclone Position-Crossing North Chennai
Wind speed:100 kms to 110 kms gusting to 120 kms.#cyclonevardah

— NDMA India (@ndmaindia) December 12, 2016

#Cyclonevardah:Human loss 4(2 in Chennai 1 in Kancheepuram and 1 in Nagapattinam).

— NDMA India (@ndmaindia) December 12, 2016

#Cyclonevardah:
Hut Damages-47
No of tree fallen- 3384 and 696 removed.
No of EB Poles fallen-3400.

— NDMA India (@ndmaindia) December 12, 2016

#Cyclonevardah:No of food packets supplied-11857.

— NDMA India (@ndmaindia) December 12, 2016

Two fishermen go missing off Kakinada in Andhra, Coast Guard says it has deployed ship for search and rescue operations, as per PTI.

NDRF teams conducting operations in Tamilnadu. pic.twitter.com/VM3fvNZCHl

— NDRF (@NDRFHQ) December 12, 2016

Cyclone moving west towards North interior Tamilnadu #vardah pic.twitter.com/I6vDx4jw31

— Chennai Weather (@chennaiweather) December 12, 2016

One side of SV Patel road closed between IIT and Madhya Kailash due to uprooted trees all through

— ChennaiRains (@ChennaiRains) December 12, 2016

Winds and Rains might still intensify, do not venture out, warns National Disaster Management Authority.

#AIUpdate : #Chennai Airfield closed till 2100 hrs today. Flts AI967 (MAA-TRV-SHJ), AI539 (MAA-DEL) & AI975 (MAA-GOI-KWI) cancelled.

— Air India (@airindiain) December 12, 2016

Cyclone Vardah shows signs of weakening, to turn into 'cyclonic storm' in next 3-4 hours, says IMD.

Also Read - From Roanu, Hud Hud, Aila to Vardah – Here's how cyclones are named

Services at Chennai Airport suspended till 2100 hours.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh speaks to Tamil Nadu CM O Panneerselvam.

8008 people accommodated in 95 relief camps, says National Disaster Management Authority.

Also Read - Cyclone Vardah: Safety tips for residents – The dos and dont's!

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

Flight operations suspended at Chennai airport till 8 pm.

#IndianArmy troops geared up for rescue & relief ops after #CycloneVardah hits #Chennai pic.twitter.com/c4JGoOB29l

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

The core of #Varadah has reached land now watch out for strong winds once again as the second half moves on shore pic.twitter.com/KMSBgMdM0W

— ChennaiRains (@ChennaiRains) December 12, 2016

Exact position of #cyclonevardah. pic.twitter.com/lgKlKaxsIK

— NDMA India (@ndmaindia) December 12, 2016

Tamil Nadu: Army personnel conduct rescue and relief operations in Chennai as heavy rainfall and strong winds lash the city 

Preventive measures already taken, enough of advisory issued; people to get affected evacuated: Harsh Vardhan, Union Science & Tech. Min

Expected point of landfall - Crossing coast near Chennai: National Disaster Management Authority

Entire landfall process will be completed during next 1-2 hours but conditions to remain rough even after that: NDMA

Tamil Nadu: Trees uprooted, damage caused as heavy rains and strong winds lash Mahabalipuram town in Kancheepuram district.

Also Read - Cyclone Vardah: Here's what landfall is...

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

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

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

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

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

Andhra Pradesh: Trees uprooted as heavy rains and strong winds lash Tada village

WATCH: Heavy rainfall and storm lashes Chennai city as Cyclone Vardah makes a landfall; trees uprooted, vehicles damaged in many parts

#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

Complete landfall to take another couple of hours. Conditions to remain severe between Chennai and Nellore, says KG Ramesh, DG IMD

Complete landfall to take another couple of hours.Conditions to remain severe between #Chennai & #Nellore -
Sh.K.G.Ramesh,DG IMD #vardah

— NDMA India (@ndmaindia) December 12, 2016

Rail services heavily disrupted in Chennai as rains lash city due to cyclonic storm vardah

WATCH: Heavy rains and strong winds lash Tada village of Andhra Pradesh

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

— ANI (@ANI_news) December 12, 2016

Northern prong of cyclone hit North of Chennai 20 mins back. Heavy rains and high speed winds expected to continue fr next 8-12 hrs

Wind speed at present around 100-110 km/hour. Chennai recorded maximum wind speed of 192 Km/hour: M Mahapatra, ADG MeT Dept #cyclonevardah

Chennai Suburban railway network suspended till further notice. Some trains reaching and leaving Chennai diverted and cancelled: ADG(PR) Railways

Chennai division of southern railway badly affected: Senior officials camping at stations and control room: ADG(PR) Railways, Anil Saxena

Chennai Suburban railway network suspended till further notice. Some trains reaching and leaving Chennai diverted and cancelled: ADG(PR) Railways

Chennai division of southern railway badly affected: Senior officials camping at stations and control room: ADG(PR) Railways, Anil Saxena

7357 people have been evacuated in Tamil Nadu 

Reportedly, 9,400 people have been evacuated in Andhra Pradesh

Deployed 6 teams in AP, 7 in TN, can handle any situation. Shifted people to safer places and educated them abt precautions: Santosh Kumar, NDRF

Heavy rainfall likely to continue until next 36 hours due to Cyclonic strong Vardah

Cyclone Vardah makes landfall in Chennai; landfall would be complete in 4 hours

Cyclone vardah's distance from Chennai - 50 KM. Expected landfall around between 2-5 PM.

#Cyclonevardah's distance from #Chennai - 50 KM.

— NDMA India (@ndmaindia) December 12, 2016

#Cyclonevardah:Expected time of landfall - between 1400-1700 IST of 12th Dec.

— NDMA India (@ndmaindia) December 12, 2016

Government of India, State government and related agencies are on alert: Union Minister Harsh Vardhan on #cyclonevardah

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu is monitoring the situation through teleconference with top officials

Fishermen are advised not to venture into sea along and off south Andhra Pradesh during next 36 hours: AP CM

Food and other essential commodities have been kept ready in adequate quantities: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu 

In addition to 10 diving teams embarked on IN Ships Shivalik & Kadmatt, 6 diving teams readied up for immediate deployment

Naval aircraft also standing-by at the Naval Air Stations Rajali and Dega to be pressed into action to augment HADR opertations: Navy

One Survey ship has been kept standby to undertake harbour survey in case of requirement: Navy 

All operations at the Chennai airport suspended till 3 PM Monday 

Tamil Nadu CM O. Panneerselvam reviewed government agencies preparedness to face Cyclone Vardah

7357 people are evacuated to 54 relief centres safely so far, says Tamil Nadu government 

7357 people are evacuated to 54 relief centres safely so far, says Tamil Nadu government 

Reportedly, the windspeed of Cyclone Vardah is 100-120 kmph

Reportedly, the windspeed of Cyclone Vardah is 100-120 kmph

Tidal wave will be one meter high, people arecadvised to be in safe places and stick to instructions given by government, says MeT department

Massive uprooting of trees reported, Cyclone Vardah likely to make landfall by 1330 hrs: Navy chief PRO captain DK Sharma

North region of Tamil Nadu and South of Andhra expected to receive heavy rainfall and wind: S Balachandran, MeT Director

Safety tip by NDMA

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

— NDMA India (@ndmaindia) December 12, 2016

"All precautions have been taken at Nuclear Plant-Kalpakkam to face Cyclone Vardah. All is well and plant operation is normal. The plant is in touch with IMD," tweets NDMA

All precautions are taken at Nuclear Plant-Kalpakkam to face #Vardah.All is well & plant operation is normal.The plant is in touch with IMD.

— NDMA India (@ndmaindia) December 12, 2016

The armed forces have been asked to be on standby with the amy, navy and air force prepared to be deployed anytime as and when required.

Cyclone Vardah lying now 87 kms east of Bay of Bengal, moving in westward direction, expected to make land fall close to Chennai between 2-4 PM, says Met department

Due to cyclonic weather over Chennai airport, flights are diverted and departures are delayed.

WATCH: Heavy rainfall and storm in Meenambakkam,Chennai (Tamil Nadu) due to Cyclone Vardah

#Watch: Heavy rainfall and storm in Meenambakkam,Chennai (Tamil Nadu) #cyclonevardah pic.twitter.com/EpNKl20S7T

— ANI (@ANI_news) December 12, 2016

People living in Ennore and Palaverkadu have been asked to evacuate by Tamil Nadu Government.

Tamil Nadu: Heavy rainfall and storm in Meenambakkam, Chennai 

Tamil Nadu: Heavy rainfall and storm in Meenambakkam, Chennai 

25 flights diverted from Chennai due to Cyclone Vardah

Cyclone Vardah likely to make landfall between 2-5 PM; landfall between Chennai and Nellore

Heavy rains coupled with squally winds on Monday lashed the northern coastal districts of Tamil Nadu, including Chennai, as very severe cyclonic storm 'Vardah' was expected to make landfall this afternoon.

Fishermen are advised not to venture into sea along and off south AndhraPradesh, north TamilNadu and Puducherry coasts during next 36 hrs.

Fishermen are advised not to venture into sea along and off south #AndhraPradesh, north #TamilNadu and Puducherry coasts during next 36 hrs.

— NDMA India (@ndmaindia) December 12, 2016

For those caught in Cyclone Vardah in Chennai, Puducherry and Cuddalore

For those caught in #CycloneVardah in #Chennai, #Puducherry and #Cuddalore via @ndmaindia pic.twitter.com/VI8GW79uQ9

— Twitter India (@TwitterIndia) December 12, 2016

If a cyclone alert is issue, don't panic; prepare yourself: NDMA

#CycloneVardah #Disasterresponse #DisasterRecovery #DisasterManagement #disasterreduction #nature #India pic.twitter.com/NWs3IO8pzs

— NDMA India (@ndmaindia) December 12, 2016

HELPLINE NUMBERS

#Chennai #CycloneVardah Corporation Helpline Nos. pic.twitter.com/NejCvhVTGx

— NDMA India (@ndmaindia) December 11, 2016

People are advised to remain in safe places and cooperate with state government officials and disaster management agencies: NDMA

People are advised to remain in safe places and cooperate with state government officials and disaster management agencies.#cyclonevardah

— NDMA India (@ndmaindia) December 12, 2016

Wind warning: Currently, wind speed is 50-60 kmph; during landfall it will be 100-110 kmph. Storm surge: About 1 metre height: NDMA

Andhra Pradesh: Four teams have been deployed in Nellore. We are fully equipped and prepared: Pawan Kumar, Sub Inspector, NDRF on Vardah

There are 6 teams in Andhra Pradesh and 8 teams in Tamil Nadu & Puducherry: SP Selvan, DIG NDRF

​

There will be heavy rains during day time. Wind speed is likely to be high but as the day progress it may reduce: DIG NDRF

The system is very likely to move nearly westwards & weaken gradually while moving towards north Tamil Nadu and adjoining south Andhra coasts: NDMA 

Cyclonic storm vardah lays over west central and southwest Bay of Bengal;  it moved further nearly west-southwest-wards during past 06 hrs.

Rain lashes Chennai: MeT says Cyclone Vardah is moving westward towards Chennai, likely to cross near Chennai this afternoon

We have sufficient standby reserves at Arakkonam. Closely in touch with state Govt authorities, and with other agencies like IMD: DG, NDRF

For Tamil Nadu, we've prepositioned 3 teams in Chennai, 2 in Kanchipuram, 2 in Tiruvallur, one team on its way to Puducherry: DG, NDRF 

During the next 36 hours, rainfall would occur at many places over north coastal Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry, Chennai,Tiruvallur: S Balachandran

It is moving westwards direction towards Chennai, likely to cross near Chennai by this afternoon: S Balachandran, MeT Director  

The very severe cyclonic storm vardah is now lying at about 180 kms east of Chennai: S Balachandran, MeT Director

Authorities on Sunday sounded a high alert in Andhra Pradesh and adjoining Tamil Nadu as cyclonic storm Vardah over the Bay of Bengal has turned into a "very severe" one.

Naval aircraft are also standing by at the naval air stations at Rajali and Dega to undertake reconnaissance, rescue, casualty evacuation and air drop of relief material to the stranded.

On Friday, the forces evacuated over 2,300 tourists, including a dozen foreigners, by air and sea from Andaman & Nicobar islands, which was hit by the cyclone.

The Eastern Naval Command is closely monitoring the developments and the Flag Officer - Tamil Nadu & Puducherry Naval Area is in constant communication with the sate administration to augment rescue and relief operations.