March 28, 2024 14:34 (IST)
Follow us:
facebook-white sharing button
twitter-white sharing button
instagram-white sharing button
youtube-white sharing button
India and China discuss border disengagement: EAM | Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar discusses defence, trade while interacting with Malaysian leaders | Want to return money 'looted' from poor and attached by ED in Bengal: PM Modi tells Krishnagar BJP candidate | Congress drops Supriya Shrinate as candidate for LS polls over her remarks on Kangana Ranaut | Delhi HC refuses interim relief to Arvind Kejriwal, issues notice to ED
Navy, Air Force, NDRRF ready as cyclone Vardah nears Chennai

Navy, Air Force, NDRRF ready as cyclone Vardah nears Chennai

India Blooms News Service | | 12 Dec 2016, 01:36 pm
Chennai, Dec 12 (IBNS) : Cyclonic storm 'Vardah' neared Sriharikota and Chennai coast, is away from the expected landfall by about two hours on Thursday afternoon, threatening a calamity in large parts of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh as the Indian Navy, Air Force and National Disaster Response Force have been kept on standby under a red alert call, reports said.

According to the Met office, the cyclone  is now 87 km east of Bay of Bengal and is moving in the westward direction with a wind speed of 150 kmph, which is likely to intensify. It is expected to make landfall by 3 - 3 30 pm

The Tamil Nadu Government has said that atleast 7,357 people have been safely evacuated to 54 relief centres so far.

According to reports,  two naval ships — Shivalik and Kadmatt — are already in North of the area, which is likely to be effected, with food, doctors and medicine to provide immediate assistance.

All educational institutes in   Chennai, Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur, besides coastal areas of Villupuram have been closed. The Tamil Nadu Government has also asked private offices to allow their staff to take a day off or work from home.

About 50 flights from Chennai have either been cancelled or diverted because of the situation.

Heavy rains have been predicted for  Chennai, Tiruvallur and Kancheepuram areas.

" The system is very likely to move nearly west-southwestwards and weaken gradually from today evening onwards while moving towards north Tamilnadu and adjoining south Andhra Pradesh coast. It is very likely to cross north Tamilnadu and south Andhra Pradesh coast, close to Chennai as a cyclonic storm by 12th December 2016 afternoon," IMD said in a statement.

Fishermen have advised not to venture into sea along and off south Andhra Pradesh, north Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coasts.

The IMD said: " Squally winds speed reaching 40-50 kmph gusting to 60 kmph would prevail along and off Andhra Pradesh and adjoining north Tamil Nadu coasts commencing from 11th December night. It will gradually increase becoming 80-90 kmph gusting to 100 kmph during the time of landfall along and off Chennai, Thiruvallur and Kanchipuram districts of Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Nellore and Prakasam districts of Andhra Pradesh."

Support Our Journalism

We cannot do without you.. your contribution supports unbiased journalism

IBNS is not driven by any ism- not wokeism, not racism, not skewed secularism, not hyper right-wing or left liberal ideals, nor by any hardline religious beliefs or hyper nationalism. We want to serve you good old objective news, as they are. We do not judge or preach. We let people decide for themselves. We only try to present factual and well-sourced news.

Support objective journalism for a small contribution.