Cyclone Vardah: Around 10 cm rainfall leaves 7 dead in Chennai

Chennai: Cyclone Vardah reached Chennai at an unprecedented speed of 140 kmph and remained there for 90 minutes on Monday afternoon before crossing the city and travelling to island. It brought at least 10cm rainfall and caused seven deaths during the period.

The weather forecast department has claimed that the worst has passed but a moderate rainfall in Chennai, Kancheepuram, Villupuram and Tiruvallur would continue for the next 24 hours. By Monday evening, the wind speed had reduced to 15-25 kmph.

The seven deceased include a 3-year-old child and four women, who lost their lives in different rain related mishaps across the city. The dead have been identified as Parvathi, 85 (Nungambakkam), Karna Behra, 24 (Elephant Gate), Karthik, 3 (Vadapalani), Vaikuntanathan, 42 (Kolathur), Mani, 60 (Thiru Vi Ka Nagar), Radha, 75 (Purasawalkam) and Amanullah, 45 (Pallikaranai).

Earlier, it was expected that the severe cyclonic storm Vardah would weaken before making landfall.

Skymet Weather chief meteorologist Mahesh Palawat said, "Vardah did not weaken considerably as it was expected. At the time when it made the landfall north of Chennai, it was a severe cyclonic storm."

The cyclone brought lots of damage to Chennai as it brought down hundreds of trees which blocked several roads across the city.

A number of houses were dismantled, especially in coastal parts such as Palavakkam, Royapuram, Foreshore Estate and Kottivakkam. Apart from that several incidents of wall collapse were also reported across the city.

Also Read:

Cyclone Vardah reaches close to Chennai, creates heavy winds

Other Measures:

• The Tamil Nadu government had declared public holiday for the coastal areas on December 12.
• NDRF teams had been kept on stand-by.
• The state government had ordered the schools and colleges in Chennai, Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur districts and coastal taluks of Villupuram district to remain closed on Monday.
• Anna University had postponed all exams that were to be held on Monday and Tuesday. Registrar S Ganesan said that all exams to be conducted for Anna University affiliated colleges would be rescheduled.
• Fishermen had been warned against venturing into sea as wind speed was expected to touch 100 kmph, which exceeded the expectations by touching 140 kmph.

https://twitter.com/ndmaindia/status/807981921913274368

Cyclone Vardah:

• Cyclone Vardah had formed in the Southeast Bay of Bengal on last Thursday and has intensified since then.
• The cyclone had created heavy storm resulting to very heavy rains over Andaman and Nicobar that had resulted in over 2000 tourists being stranded on Neil and Havelock Islands.
• It had become a severe cyclonic storm before it made a landfall at Chennai coast on Monday afternoon.