Telangana News

At least 9 lost lives due to the deadly cyclone Vardah in Chennai, the reports from Tamil Nadu Government and National Disaster Response force said. The officials are estimating that the death toll would increase even as 10,342 people living in low-lying areas were moved to safety by authorities.

Vardah’s trail of destruction and devastation was visible all over from Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh to Mamallapuram in Tamil Nadu, a distance of 174 km, with several thousand trees uprooted in the area. A huge trail of destruction was felt even in neighboring Tiruvallur and Kancheepuram districts too 

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Pannerselvam said that, a complete restoration of power supply to all 3 districts would take one to two days. He also announced ex-gratia of Rs 4 lakh each to the kin of those who died due to the cyclone.

National Highways connecting Chennai with Bangalore, Kolkata, New Delhi and Mumbai suffered severe damage as powerful winds uprooted trees and signboards affecting traffic on these major highways.

“After 1994, this is the first very severe cyclonic storm to hit the Chennai coast. The storm has completely crossed the coast as expected (this evening). The Cyclone Vardah hit the Chennai Coast at 2.30 pm and made its landfall near the Harbour at 6.30 pm. The maximum speed of winds was 150 kmph at one point,” a senior MeT department official said.