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Cyclone Vardah lashes south India coast with 120km/h winds Cyclone Vardah: Two dead as storm lashes south India coast
(about 1 hour later)
Thousands of people have been evacuated from coastal areas in two southern Indian states, with Cyclone Vardah, packing winds of up to 120km/h (75mph), making landfall near Chennai (Madras). At least two 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 Chennai airport services suspended as heavy rain and winds lashed the city. Schools and businesses were shut and airport services suspended, as the cyclone made landfall with heavy rain and winds of up to 120km/h (75mph).
Teams from the army and National Disaster Relief Force, along with two naval ships, are on standby.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.Fishermen in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu have been warned not to go to sea.
Several trees and street lights in Chennai have been brought down by the strong winds and parts of the city have been flooded. 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.
The cyclone comes about a year after Chennai experienced devastating floods which killed 70 people. Cyclone Vardah is 90km in diameter, so it will fully make landfall only in the next two to four hours," YK Reddy, director of the meteorology department in Hyderabad, told BBC Hindi. He said that the storm would weaken after that.
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.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.And in May 2010 at least 23 people died as a powerful cyclone caused widespread havoc across Andhra Pradesh.