Cyclone Vardah: Helpline numbers

The severe cyclonic storm Vardah is expected to cross the Bay of Bengal coast between Sriharikota and Krishnapatnam in Andhra Pradesh's SPS Nellore district after 5 PM on Monday.

Vijayawada: In view of the MeT office issuing alert about severe cyclonic storm 'Vardah' crossing coast near Chennai on Monday afternoon, helpline numbers were issued by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) on Sunday.

#CycloneVardah Control Room Andhra Pradesh-0866-2488000
Control Room Tamil Nadu-044-28593990

— NDMA India (@ndmaindia) December 11, 2016

Vardah is expected to cross the Bay of Bengal coast between Sriharikota and Krishnapatnam in Andhra Pradesh's SPS Nellore district after 5 pm tomorrow, bringing with it high velocity winds of up to 100 kmph and heavy rainfall of about 19 cm.

#CycloneVardah: To hit South #andhra nr #Chennai on 12Dec.Sea Condns 2b very rough frm today. Everybody advised safe shelters @ home etc. pic.twitter.com/i64u5XY12F — NDMA India (@ndmaindia) December 11, 2016

Indications that the cyclonic storm may weaken before making a landfall have come as a bit of relief for the AP administration but the state of high alertness will remain till the situation completely eases.

Prakasam and SPS Nellore districts on the Bay of Bengal coast are likely to be hit heavily because of the cyclone while Chittoor and Kadapa districts of Rayalaseema are also expected to receive heavy rainfall, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu had said yesterday.

"We have kept four teams of National Disaster Response Force ready while four senior IAS officers are being deputed to these districts to oversee the rescue operations," he had told a press conference yesterday night after a video-conference with district Collectors and top officials.

"The intensity of Vardah may not be as high as Hudhud, which battered Visakhapatnam in October 2014. Nevertheless, we are taking all precautions to minimise the damage, if any. We are taking the help of ISRO to track the cyclonic progression and accordingly we are taking all necessary emergency measures," he had added.

#CycloneVardah What to do in case of Cyclone pic.twitter.com/gIb70GMp8K — NDMA India (@ndmaindia) December 11, 2016

(With PTI inputs)