Tamil Nadu on Sunday night braced up for Vardah, a severe cyclonic storm that is brewing over the Bay of Bengal and will make landfall near Chennai on Monday. Officials of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said that the system is expected to bring heavy rainfall in coastal districts of Tamil Nadu, including Chennai, and southern Andhra Pradesh.
The National Disaster Management Authority (NDRF) said teams have been deployed in Tamil Nadu. The teams, each consisting of 38 rescuers, have been deployed in Chennai, Tiruvallore and Kancheepuram.
As per weather experts in the IMD, Vardah lay centred at about 440 km east of Chennai and is expected to move westwards and cross Chennai by Monday afternoon. The storm will bring heavy rainfall in northern coastal districts of Tamil Nadu, including the capital city. Southern
Andhra Pradesh too is expected to receive heavy showers. Wind speed is likely to be around 40-50 kph.
North coastal Tamil Nadu and Puducherry and southern Andhra Pradesh are expected to witness isolated heavy rain while squall and rough sea conditions are expected along and off Andhra Pradesh, north Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coasts.
Storm surge of about 1 metre above normal tide is expected at the time of landfall, predicted the weather scientists.
The IMD advisory warned that the cyclone may cause damage to thatched huts, power and communication lines. The damage may also be caused to paddy crops, banana, papaya trees and orchards in Chennai, Thiruvallur and Kanchipuram districts of Tamil Nadu, Ongole and Nellore districts of Andhra Pradesh and Puducherry. It also urged fishermen in Tamil Nadu, Puduchery and Andhra Pradesh coasts to keep away from the seas for the next 48 hours.
Meanwhile, the Tamil Nadu Government has put the administration of the respective districts on alert. Navy has been deployed with high degree of preparedness for possible rescue operations. All operational ships have been kept ready on standby to undertake Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief operations including evacuation, should the situation demand.
These ships have also been provided with additional divers, doctors, inflatable rubber boats, integral helicopters and relief material that include food, tent materials, clothes, medicines and blankets.
Further, 30 diving teams with Gemini boats and four platoons with additional relief material are ready to be pressed into action at short notice.
In Andhra Pradesh, all emergency measures have been put in place. Three teams of NDRF personnel have been kept ready in Nellore district as heavy to very heavy rain ranging up to 17 cms is expected. Chittoor and Kadapa districts are also expected to receive very heavy rainfall while Anantapuramu and Prakasam districts will receive moderate rain.
Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu reviewed the situation through a teleconference with Collectors of these districts and top officials this evening. He directed them to be alert and undertake necessary rescue and relief efforts in view of the cyclone threat.
Four senior IAS officials have been deputed to Nellore, Chittoor, Kadapa and Prakasam districts to oversee rescue and relief operations.