The day after cyclone Vardah: As it happened

Tamil Nadu CM O Panneerselvam wrote to PM Narendra Modi on Tuesday, seeking immediate release of Rs 1,000 crore from National Disaster Response Fund as cyclone relief.   

By Prashant V Singh | Last Updated: Tuesday, December 13, 2016 - 23:39
Rescue and relief operations

Chennai: Eighteen people were killed in six districts of Tamil Nadu in rain-related incidents linked to Cyclone Vardah that crossed the coast, as Chief Minister O Panneerselvam held a meeting of top officials on Tuesday to speed up work to ensure return of normalcy in storm-hit regions.

The government said it is taking all steps to ensure that the jammed mobile phone networks are restored and a meeting of telecom operators and officials was held.

"A total of 18 persons were killed in rain-related incidents linked to Cyclone Vardah," a top Tamil Nadu government official monitoring the situation told PTI.

He said five each were killed in Chennai and Tiruvallur districts. Four persons died in Kancheepuram district, one each in Villupuram and Nagapattinam districts and two in Tiruvannamali district, the officials added.

All these deaths were in the revenue districts.

13 December 2016, 21:51 PM

Tamil Nadu CM Panneerselvam writes to PM Modi requesting to depute a team to study extensive damages caused by cyclonic storm.

13 December 2016, 21:51 PM

16 people lost their lives in cyclone Vardah. Families of deceased will be given 4 Lakh each from state disaster relief fund, says TN government.

13 December 2016, 21:50 PM

Schools and colleges in Chennai, Kanchipuram and Thiruvallur district to remain closed for tomorrow, says Tamil Nadu government.

13 December 2016, 14:49 PM

Extend sympathies to those affected by Cyclone Vardah, appreciate Govt's efforts in rescue operations. Hope everything will be fine: Chhattisgarh CM Raman Singh

 

13 December 2016, 11:00 AM

Will extend possible assistance to Tamil Nadu. We'll discuss contribution that can be made to TN: Andhra Pradesh CM

Instructed Revenue, Police, State Disaster Response Force & other depts not to lower their guard against cyclone Vardah: Andhra Pradesh CM

13 December 2016, 10:14 AM

Helpline numbers

13 December 2016, 10:13 AM

Rainfall at many places with isolated heavy falls over north Tamil Nadu and adjoining areas of south interior Karnataka is likely during next 12 hours, says NDMA

13 December 2016, 09:58 AM

Cyclone Vardah's activity over north Tamil Nadu moved further west-southwestwards during past 6 hrs at speed of 20 kmph,weakened into depression: NDMA

13 December 2016, 10:04 AM

Flight operations resume at Tirupati Airport after it was temporarily suspended due to Cyclone Vardah 

13 December 2016, 09:58 AM

WATCH: Trees uprooted, damage caused in several parts of Chennai after cyclone vardah made a landfall

13 December 2016, 09:29 AM

Tamil Nadu: NDRF teams conduct relief and rescue operations in cyclone-hit areas

 

13 December 2016, 09:19 AM

Chennai Airport now operational after the services were temporarily suspended on Monday in view of Cyclone Vardah

 

13 December 2016, 09:19 AM

Govt and private schools, colleges and other educational institutions in Chennai, Kanchipuram and Tiruvallur to remain closed on Tuesday

 

13 December 2016, 09:19 AM

Death toll rises to 10 in Tamil Nadu (4 in Chennai, 2 in Kancheepuram, 2 in Tiruvallur, 1 in Villupuram and 1 in Nagapattinam): NDMA

13 December 2016, 09:19 AM

Karnataka: Bengaluru witnesses light showers after Cyclone Vardah made a landfall in Chennai on Tuesday

 

13 December 2016, 09:19 AM

Tamil Nadu: NDRF teams conduct relief and rescue operations in cyclone hit areas

 

13 December 2016, 09:19 AM

Karnataka: Bengaluru witnesses light showers after Cyclone Vardah made a landfall in Chennai on Tuesday

 

13 December 2016, 09:17 AM

Situation being monitored closely by concerned authorities.Working to restore normalcy as fast as we can: RK Pachnanda, DG NDRF

 

13 December 2016, 09:17 AM

Cyclone Vardah forms deep depression over north interior Tamil Nadu. To weaken as low pressure area in next 6 hours, says NDMA

 

13 December 2016, 09:17 AM

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam and his Andhra Pradesh counterpart N Chandrababu Nadu apprised the Home Minister of the damage caused by the cyclone and steps taken for the rescue and relief.

13 December 2016, 09:17 AM

Home Minister Rajnath Singh spoke to Chief Ministers of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh to take stock of the situation in the two states and promised all help.

 

13 December 2016, 09:17 AM

Coastal regions of northern Tamil Nadu - Chennai, Tiruvallur and Kancheepuram - continue to be on high alert even as people in low-lying areas were accommodated in relief centres.

13 December 2016, 09:13 AM

Also, separate teams of personnel drawn from the health, sanitary and electricity departments were deployed for relief operations in low-lying areas of the three storm-hit Tamil Nadu districts.

 

13 December 2016, 09:15 AM

About 8,000 people from low-lying areas in north Chennai, Pazhaverkadu in Tiruvallur district and villages off Mamallapuram, in Kanchipuram district were safely evacuated to 95 relief shelters, officials said.

In Andhra Pradesh, over 9,400 people living along the Bay of Bengal were evacuated to relief camps amid heavy rain.

13 December 2016, 09:15 AM

Personnel from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and SDRF were deployed for rescue efforts as army was put on standby.

 

13 December 2016, 09:15 AM

Civic workers used hand-held battery-operated wood cutters to remove hundreds of uprooted trees lying on the roads.

 

13 December 2016, 09:15 AM

"After 1994, this is the first very severe cyclonic storm to hit Chennai coast. The storm has completely crossed the coast as expected (this evening)," a senior Met Official said.

 

13 December 2016, 09:13 AM

Most commercial establishments downed shutters in Chennai, Tiruvallur and Kancheepuram districts.

13 December 2016, 09:13 AM

Public transport came to a standstill in Chennai with buses and suburban trains suspended and airport shut. Rail, road and air traffic.

13 December 2016, 09:13 AM

Two fishermen were reported missing off the Andhra Pradesh coast in Kakinada and the Coast Guard has deployed ship for search and rescue operations. 

Though no major loss of life or property has been reported from Andhra Pradesh so far, heavy rains lashed Chittoor and SPS Nellore district, affecting normal life.

13 December 2016, 09:13 AM

Thousands of people were evacuated as roaring wind clocking speed of 100 km an hour uprooted trees, tore off hoardings and toppled cars.

 

13 December 2016, 09:13 AM

Cyclone Vardah flattened homes, snapped power, communication lines and threw into disarry rail, road and air traffic as it crossed the coast in Tamil Nadu. It pounded Chennai, Tiruvallur and Kanchipuram with heavy rain and squall.