Cyclone Vardha has started crossing over on to the coast, Puthiya Thalaimurai TV reports quoting satellite images. The channel says that it will take 2-3 hours for it to make landfall.


The Tamil Nadu government, still being referred to as the Amma government, by Puthiya Thalaimurai TV, has set up 176 temporary shelters for Vardha, 30 of which are already functional in Chennai. Traffic snarls reported after trees were uprooted by strong winds (expected to reach 100 kmph in coastal AP and Tamil Nadu), from many parts of Chennai. Rescue boats are on standby.
In the Pudhverkadu area in the outskirts of Chennai, seawater has entered homes.

Navy, Airforce, NDRF teams on standby. So far 25 flights headed to Chennai have been delayed, 31 have been cancelled.