Ships, aircraft, choppers on standby: Coast Guard

The Coast Guard has kept four ships and six patrol vessels on standby at Visakhapatnam, Chennai and Karaikal to take up rescue and relief works in the wake of cyclone Vardah making its landfall.

"Four Dornier aircraft and two Chetak helicopters are also on stand by... ," an official release said.

Already one Coast Guard ship was deployed for providing rescue operations off the coast of Andhra Pradesh.

Coast Guard officials were in continuous contact with the State Disaster Management authorities for taking up the rescue and relief operations, it said.

A Coast Guard rapid response team along with rescue boats and manpower were also on standby for providing relief operations, it added.