Cyclone Vardah: Centre, NDMA working closely with local administration, Army, says PM Modi

Chennai/Amrawati: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday asked people affected by Cyclone Vardah to stay safe and assured that Centre and National Disaster Response Force (NDMA) were working closely with local administrations and Army for safety of life and property.

The PM tweeted:

My prayers are with all those people who are affected due to adverse weather conditions caused by #CycloneVardah. Stay safe.— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 12, 2016

Centre, @ndmaindia is working closely with local administrations & army for safety of life and property.— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 12, 2016

Very severe cyclonic storm 'Vardah', the most intense to have hit the Tamil Nadu capital in two decades, claimed four lives, flattened homes, snapped power, communication lines and threw into disarry rail, road and air traffic as it crossed the coast here, pounding Chennai, Tiruvallur and Kanchipuram with heavy rain and squall.

Thousands of people were evacuated as roaring wind clocking speed of 100 km an hour uprooted trees, tore off hoardings and toppled cars.

Though no major loss of life or property has been reported from Andhra Pradesh so far, heavy rains lashed Chittoor and SPS Nellore district, affecting normal life.

Public transport came to a standstill in Chennai with buses and suburban trains suspended and airport shut.

Rail, road and air traffic, official sources said, were likely to be restored by tomorrow, as per PTI.

Most commercial establishments downed shutters in Chennai, Tiruvallur and Kancheepuram districts.

Civic workers used hand-held battery-operated wood cutters to remove hundreds of uprooted trees lying on the roads.

Personnel from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and SDRF were deployed for rescue efforts as army was put on standby.

(With Agency inputs)