Cyclone 10 km north-east of Chennai.  Tiruvallur worst-hit by rainfall, 15 villages cut off there.


The government has urged the people of Ennore and Palaverkadu to move to safer places. Due to the cyclonic weather over the Chennai airport, flights are being diverted and departures are delayed.


The National Disaster Management Authority said that all precautions have been taken at Nuclear Power Plant-Kalpakkam to tackle cyclone Vardah.


"All is well and plant operation is normal. Plant is in touch with IMD," the NDMA said.Indian Meteorological Department Additional Director General M. Mahapatra told ANI it is expected that the cyclone storm will move west wards and cross north Tamil Nadu and adjoining southern coast close to Chennai by this afternoon.


"At the time of landfall, the winds will be 100-110 km/hour. This particular wind can lead to structural damage like breaking of tree branches, uprooting of trees, damage to telephone electric poles, damage to roads," he added.


So far, more than a 1000 trees have been uprooted across Tamil Nadu.


File pic of the December 2015 Chennai floods.