Dhaka – Cyclone Vardah that hit the Tamil Nadu capital on Monday evening has claimed ten lives. Thousands of people were evacuated as roaring winds, clocking speeds of over 100 km an hour, uprooted trees, tore off hoardings and toppled cars, reports Indian Express.India’s National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has said in its report that the cyclone has claimed 10 lives in Tamil Nadu including four in Chennai, two in Kancheepuram, two in Tiruvallur, one in Villupuram and one in Nagapattinam.
The Tamil Nadu state government has announced a compensation of Rs 4 lakh each to the next of the kin of those killed in Vardah-related incidents.
As Chennai came in the eye of a massive cyclonic storm, Regional Meteorological Department (MET) department kept sending warnings on the speed of the stormy winds, which started at 30-45 kmph in the morning and went up to 120 kmph as the eye of Vardah finally crossed Chennai between 1.30 pm and 2.30 pm. About 20 cm rainfall was reported.
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.
Taking stock of the situation, Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday spoke to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minsiter N Chandrababu Nadu, and assured all help.
While the Chennai international airport suspended all the flight operations due to strong crosswinds, Southern Railway also had to cancel at least 17 train services. – Agencies
