DEATHS RECORDED AS CYCLONE VARDAH BOMBARDS INDIAN COAST

At least seven people have been killed and thousands evacuated from coastal areas in two southern Indian states, as Cyclone Vardah lashed Chennai (Madras).
Schools and businesses were shut and airport services suspended, as the cyclone made landfall with heavy rain and winds of up to 140km/h (85mph).

Teams from the army and National Disaster Relief Force, along with two naval ships, are on standby.

Fishermen in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu have been warned not to go to sea.

Police said disaster management teams had evacuated more than 15,000 people from low-lying areas.

The Tamil Nadu state government said in a statement that 260 trees in the city had fallen as a result of strong winds. Parts of the city have also been flooded.

Winds were so strong that glass panels were torn from the facade of Chennai's Hyatt-Regency hotel.

YK Reddy, director of the meteorology department in Hyderabad, told BBC Hindi the storm would weaken after making landfall.

The storm comes about a year after Chennai experienced devastating floods which killed 70 people.

In December 2011, more than 30 people died and many homes were damaged after a cyclone struck near the town of Pondicherry. And in May 2010 at least 23 people died as a powerful cyclone caused widespread havoc across Andhra Pradesh. Strong winds and rains have been lashing the city of Chennai

                            Fishermen have been warned not to venture out to sea
Cyclone Vardah bearing down on the coast

Comments

NOW ON SALE WORLDWIDE!!!!!! THE FOUR STONES - The Battle of the Four Realms - BY UCHECHUKWU DANIEL

MORE COMMUNITY HEADLINES

EVERYONE LIKES POPCORN BUT IS IT HEALTHY?

MOTHER NAMES DAUGHTER BORN IN A HELICOPTER, SKY (CIELO)

PROPHET WITH HAIR REACHING HIS TOES - PHOTO TAKEN IN KIRIKIRI TOWN

SEX CONSENT AGE RAISED FROM 12 TO 16 YEARS IN PHILIPPINES

AISHA BUHARI PRESENTS GIFTS TO '2022 FIRST BABY' IN BWARI COMMUNITY HOSPITAL, ABUJA

NIGERIA PRISON SERVICE RESPONDS TO FRAUDULENT MINDS

SAPELE COMMUNITY PROTESTS OVER BEDC LICENSE AND TO INTRODUCE PREPAID METER

NO MORE STREET TRADING IN UMUAHIA CITY CENTER - COUNCIL BOSS