Chennai tries to move on after cyclone Vardah hits the state

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People of Chennai woke up to utter chaos on Tuesday. Uprooted trees, blocked roads, fallen hoardings, damaged houses, power cut- such was the plight of the morning after the cyclone in Chennai, Vadrah tore through the region.

People of Chennai and adjacent areas woke up to utter chaos.

A day after the cyclone Vardah unleashed fury on Chennai and its adjacent areas, the southern region of the country tries to move on. The cyclone Vardah had hit Chennai, Tiruvallur and Kancheepuram districts and caused massive destruction. Vardah cyclone in Chennai is the most destructive cyclone in the last two decades. It left about 16 people dead and uprooted over 10,000 trees and hundreds of electricity poles. The government has immediately started working on the plan of action to restore normality as soon as possible.

A devasted petrol pump in Chennai after the cyclone hit the state.

Various relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction measures are undertaken by the state government, along with urban and rural local bodies. The power supply was restored in most of the affected areas. Over 9000 workers were working to repair and restore power cables and electric poles. It will take around two days before the power supply is fully restored on the outskirts of Tiruvallur and Kancheepuram.

Workers clearing the roads blocked by fallen trees.

National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) for removing the fallen trees is collaborating with police and fire rescue services and staff of Chennai Corporation and local bodies to remove fallen trees. Deputy Inspector-General of NDRF (South Zone) S.P. Selvan told that 10 teams of NDRF were working together with local authorities to restore road traffic and electricity in the affected areas.

Electricity poles were uprooted but in most areas electricity was restored.

The cyclone in Chennai caused unprecedented destruction. The uprooted trees have fallen on roads and blocked them. They have damaged rail and road networks along with electricity and telecommunication infrastructure. Almost all the roads are cleared to make way for vehicles. The Collectors of  Thanjavur, Cuddalore, Perambalur, Tiruchi, Ariyalur and Salem supplied mechanized saws along with their staff so that the trees could be removed at the earliest.

Principal Secretary and Commissioner of Revenue Administration (CRA), K. Satyagopal, told that about 75% of the fallen trees are in Chennai only. Those who were injured due to the effects of cyclone Vardah received immediate medical attention in hospitals.

Most of the airline services resumed.

Airline services resumed whereas most of the trains were canceled. Suburban and Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) train services were yet to get back on track as they are waiting for the power supply. More than half of the buses were running in the state.

The government deployed several workers of different utilities in Chennai and its adjacent areas to help people.

O Panneerselvam, Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, on Tuesday requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to sanction Rs 1000 crore urgently from the national disaster response fund. He also requested the PM to depute a team to study the damage caused by Vardah. He said state disaster response fund will not be enough to meet the demands of immediate relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction.

Government will give details about the destruction caused by the center

A detailed exercise to assess the damage and requirement of funds for immediate relief and restoration is being carried out. Since the damage to various infrastructure assets and properties has been extensive, the detailed assessment is expected to take two or three days. The chief minister said the state will present the detailed memorandum on the extensive damage suffered in the next few days.

Panneerselvam thanked the PM for the quick response and support in speedily dispatching Central forces to undertake rescue and relief work. More than 15,000 people were evacuated and over 100 relief camps were set up. People were provided with water, food, medical services and other necessary services.

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