Cyclone Vardah: Heavy, extremely heavy rain expected, rescue teams on alert

As Meteorological Department Director S. Balachandran on Sunday warned of 'extremely heavy rainfall' in some regions due to cyclone Vardah, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam has issued instructions for the arrangements to be made for evacuating people in low-lying and vulnerable areas.

"The cyclone now lies at around 330 km east of Chennai. It is moving in westward direction and is likely to cross south Andhra and north Tamil Nadu and will cross over to Chennai by tomorrow afternoon and rainfall would start at many places from today night. Tomorrow, rainfall in some regions could be heavy or very heavy and even extremely heavy rainfall could occur in one or two places. As the cyclone is crossing the coast with a wind speed of around 80-90 km and sea conditions will be very rough fishermen are advised not to venture the sea," Balachandran told ANI.

Meanwhile, the Tamil Nadu government has declared a public holiday on December 12 in Kanchipuram, Tiruvallur, Chennai and coastal Taluks of Villupuram.

Educational institutions in Thiruvalluvar and Kanchipuram districts of Tamil Nadu are to remain close.

The government has also issued advisory to private undertakings and establishments to permit their staff to avail holiday or work from home tomorrow in wake of the cyclone.

Indian Coast Guard assets are on standby for rescue operations and have requested the fishermen in the region refrain from proceeding to the sea till the cyclone subsides.

DG National Disaster Response Force R. K. Pachnanda has said that five teams have been pre-positioned in Andhra Pradesh and six in Tamil Nadu.