Cyclone Vardah bore down on Chennai,Tamil Nadu at around 2.20 p.m. on Monday, December 12.Two deaths have been reported as a result of the storm.

The Indian Meteorological Department predicted that wind speeds could reach up to 150 Kmph.

Indian media also reported that that winds wreaked havoc in 30 villages including  to Chennai, Kanchipuram, Thirunelweli and Wallipuram.

Foreign media also reported that the unfavourable weather conditions prompted the evacuation of 16,000 people.

Rescue teams including Navy and Air Force personnel are on high alert in the event the weather conditions worsen.

The state government had taken measures to suspend air travel and train travel before Cyclone Vardah made landfall in Chennai.

Foreign media also reported that a number of schools were shut down as a result.

While noting that Cyclone Vardah will not directly impact weather in the interior of Sri Lanka, the Met Department in Colombo warned however that swells may be experienced in the Mannar Bay and in Kankesanthurai.

The Meterological Department said earlier that the cyclonic storm was located 390 km northeast off the coast of Kankesunthurai in the Bay of Bengal.

Meanwhile, it is predicted that  intermittent strong winds may be experienced around the country.

The Met Department added that Cyclone Vardah, may trigger rainy weather conditions across the Western, Northwestern, Sabaragamuwa, Central and Southern provinces, and in the district of Jaffna.

Swells could also be experienced in the sea areas off the Mannar Bay and the Jaffna Peninsula.

The Met department urges the sea-faring communities to exercise caution.

Meanwhile, SriLankan Airlines says that scheduled flights from Katunayayake to Chennai will be delayed until 7 a.m. tomorrow, Tuesday December 13, owing to Cyclonic storm Vardah.

Sri Lankan Airlines flight UL 121 was forced to return to Katunayake as it could not land in Chennai.

The Duty Manager at the Airport said that another flight which was bound to Chennai from Dubai was redirected to Sri Lanka as Cyclone Vardah was set to make landfall.

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