Cyclone Vardah keeps AP on high alert; over 9,400 evacuated
12 Dec 2016 11:30 AM GMT
Eight fishermen belonging to Tamil Nadu were rescued from the sea near the Sriharikota High Altitude Range while search was on for ten more persons feared trapped at sea.
With the cyclonic storm Vardah set to make landfall between Sriharikota and Chennai, a state of high alert is being maintained in SPS Nellore district.
"The police and CISF personnel are on the job and all the ten fishermen are safe. But they are somehow reluctant to come to the shore. We will soon bring them out," Nellore Superintendent of Police Vishal Gunni told PTI over phone.
Municipal Administration Minister P Narayana, who is camping in Nellore to oversee the rescue and relief operations, said Vakadu and Tada received 4.8 and 3 cms of rain, respectively, since today morning.
"We have already moved over 9,400 persons in seven vulnerable mandals to safety. All necessary measures have been taken to ensure safety of people," he said.
Earlier, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu had directed the Nellore district administration to evacuate people in about 255 low-lying areas to safer places.
The Chief Minister reviewed the situation through teleconference and asked the official machinery to remain on high alert to prevent loss of lives.
The holy Tirumala Hills have been receiving rainfall since last night, causing some hardship to devotees visiting the shrine of Lord Venkateswara.
Temple Executive Officer D Sambasiva Rao has directed the temple staff to make necessary arrangements for the comfort of the pilgrims in view of the inclement weather.
Under the influence of Vardah, Nellore and Chittoor districts are expected to receive heavy rainfall.
In Sullurpeta mandal in Nellore district, 30 persons were shifted to a relief camp this morning.
The South Central Railway has cancelled some passenger trains between Sullurpeta and Chennai in view of the cyclone.
The Vijayawada-Chennai-Vijayawada Pinakini Express has been diverted via Renigunta and Arrakkonam. Some other Express trains on the Chennai route have also been diverted via Arrakkonam.
Cyclone Vardah: Police deployed on beach road in Puducherry
Puducherry: In view of strong cyclonic storm Vardah, the Puducherry government today took precautionary steps to prevent tourists and other people from going close to the sea shore.
Police personnel were deployed on the entire two-and-a-half kilometre stretch of beach road and barricades were also put on all roads close to the sea shore.
All schools and colleges are closed today.
Special meetings of the officials of Revenue and Disaster Management Department to ensure that all necessary arrangements were in place.
Control rooms were opened with toll free numbers 1070 and 1077 for people.
Flow of vehicles at various important centres was thin.
Puducherry experienced intermittent drizzle from early morning due to approaching very severe cyclone Vardah.
Cyclone Vardah: Andhra Pradesh on high alert
Amaravati: With severe cyclonic storm Vardah set to make landfall between Sriharikota and Chennai, a state of high alert is being maintained in SPS Nellore district of Andhra Pradesh.
Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu directed the Nellore district administration to evacuate people in about 255 low-lying areas to safer places even as the district started receiving rainfall since morning.
Under the influence of Vardah, Nellore and Chittoor districts are expected to receive heavy rainfall.
In Sullurpeta mandal in Nellore district, 30 persons were shifted to a relief camp this morning.
The South Central Railway has cancelled some passenger trains between Sullurpeta and Chennai in view of the cyclone.
The Vijayawada-Chennai-Vijayawada Pinakini Express has been diverted via Renigunta and Arrakkonam while some other express trains on the Chennai route have also been diverted via Arrakkonam.
The Chief Minister reviewed the situation through teleconference and asked the official machinery to remain on high alert to prevent loss of lives.
Vardah may not weaken much when it makes landfall
New Delhi: Cyclonic storm Vardah, which was earlier expected to weaken considerably, may not see its intensity going down when it makes landfall near Chennai today.
According to the Cyclone Warning Division of the India Meteorological Department, (IMD), Vardah, which is currently, a very severe cyclonic storm, will weaken, but only to a severe cyclonic storm.
The earlier forecast made by the IMD was that it would weaken into a cyclonic storm, thereby reducing its intensity considerably.
At 9:30 AM, the cyclone was lay centered around 105 kms east-northeast of Chennai. By the time it makes a landfall, its wind speed is expected to be 100-110 kmph with winds gusting up to 120 kmph.
The wind speed during a very severe cyclonic storm is 120 to 130 kmph. In a severe cyclonic storm the wind speed is somewhere between 110 to 80 kmph.
One of the major reasons for destruction in any cyclone is the wind velocity, apart from heavy to heavy rains and flooding.
Rainfall at most places with isolated heavy to very heavy falls over south coastal Andhra Pradesh, north coastal Tamil Nadu and Puducherry is very likely during 36 hrs.
The rainfall intensity will increase gradually becoming heavy to very heavy rainfall (7-19 cm) at a few places and isolated extremely heavy rainfall (20 cm) over Chennai, Thiruvallur and Kanchipuram districts of Tamil Nadu and Nellore and Prakasam districts of Andhra Pradesh on December 12, the IMD said.
Tidal wave of about one metre height above the astronomical tide is very likely to inundate the low lying areas of Chennai, Thiruvallur and Kanchipuram districts of Tamil Nadu and Nellore districts of Andhra Pradesh during the time of landfall.
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