Severe cyclonic storm Vardah leaves behind a trail of destruction in Chennai and other parts of Tamil Nadu. It also calimed ten lives. In a statement, the , National Disaster Management Authority, NDMA said, four people were killed in Chennai, 2 each in Kanchipuram and Tiruvallur districts and one each in Viluppuram and Nagapattinam.
Earlier, the state government has announced a solatium of four lakh rupees each to the next kin of those killed in the cyclone related incidents. The storm, which hit Tamil Nadu coast at a speed of over 100 kilometres per hour yesterday, also flattened homes, snapped power and communication lines and disrupted rail, road and air traffic.
Thousands of people were evacuated as Vardah pounded Chennai, Tiruvallur and Kanchipuram districts with heavy rain and squall. Over ten thousand people who were rescued by National Disaster Response Force, NDRF, have taken shelter in about 300 relief camps. Schools and Colleges in Chennai, Kanchipuram and Tiruvallur will remain closed today.
Public transport came to a standstill yesterday in Chennai with buses and suburban trains suspended and airport shut. Rail, road and air traffic have been restored. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam said, the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board has deployed 4,000 personnel to set right power lines damaged due to high speed winds.
Ten fishermen are reported to be missing off Andhra Pradesh coast in Kakinada. The Coast Guard has deployed ship for search and rescue operation. Though no loss of life or major damage to property has been reported from Andhra Pradesh, heavy rain lashed Chittoor and SPS Nellore districts affecting normal life.