Cyclone Vardah howled through Chennai between 2.30 pm and 4.30 pm on Monday, killing at least six people and maiming the city. Most of the deaths, including that of a three-year-old boy, were due to wall collapses triggered by wind and torrential rain. Hours after the winds that touched 140 kmph died down, Chennai was still on its knees, fighting road blocks caused by uprooted trees, and a virtual blackout.
Designated as a “very severe cyclonic storm“ and the first to hit Chennai since 1994, Vardah left in its wake a trail of destruction. Thousands of trees--the city corporation counted 2,810--fell, injuring people, crushing cars, block ing roads and choking traffic.The city airport remained shut since 8 am as flights could not land or take off in the gusty winds.
Southern Railway called off 39 trains and rescheduled several more. Schools, colleges, offices and factories were closed. In Teynampet, the cyclone ripped away the facade of a hotel.
Trains of the metro rail, mass rapid transit system and suburban services were also affected.
There was a virtual blackout after cables snapped in the wind. In some places, power lines were shut down to prevent accidents. With many feeder lines tripping, power supply was disrupted across the city . The state electricity board officials were able to assess the damage only in the evening after the cyclone had passed: officials said it would take at least a day to restore power to all areas in the city. By 8 pm, the corporation, along with National Disaster Response Force and the city police had cleared 650 uprooted trees and fallen signboards and street lamps.Teams were working overnight and reinforcements were being brought in from other districts. The corporation said by Tuesday morning, the main roads would be cleared.
The city had gone to sleep on Sunday with the weatherman's warning; it woke up to rain and wind that gained strength as the day passed in foreboding twilight. By evening, the Met department recorded 110 mm of rain at the city centre and 170 mm near the airport. Added to the rain since Sunday morning, it totalled 199 mm.
Wind speed exceeded 140 kmph on Marina beach, and by 4 pm, tides were rising above the predicted 1m mark.Fishermen's huts and dwellings along the shore were swept off, forcing people to scramble to government shelters and nearby buildings. People on the roads were stuck for hours due to diversions and blocks. All suburban services were suspended by 1 pm, leaving commuters stranded across the city and its suburbs. Platform roofs at the Chennai Beach and Central stations swayed in the wind and one on Beach collapsed.
Hundreds of passengers were stuck at Chennai Central station without electricity or charge in their phones even as buses and cabs stopped plying after 1 pm. Passengers were unable to seek shelter in the waiting rooms where the roofs leaked. A few autorickshaw drivers, who were willing to ferry passengers, charged double the rate. Airport director G Chandramouli said from midnight till 8 am on Monday , 46 flights departed from the Chennai airport. Twenty seven flights were diverted to other airports and five were cancelled.
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