Cyclone Vardah makes landfall, throws life out of gear, kills 4 in Tamil Nadu

Chennai : Cyclone Vardah, most intense in last 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 in Tamil Nadu, pounding Chennai, Tiruvallur and Kanchipuram with heavy rain and squall. 

Over thousands were evacuated to relief camps before cyclone made landfall with winds over 150 KMPH. 

"After 1994, this is the first very severe cyclonic storm to hit Chennai coast. The storm has completely crossed the coast as expected (this evening)," a senior Met Official here told PTI.

No major loss of life has been reported from Andhra Pradesh, but heavy rainfall kept it pouring.

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 Tuesday.

Home Minister Rajnath Singh spoke to Tamil Nadu chief minister and assured him all possible help from the Centre.