Cyclone Vardah, which is expected to make landfall on Monday afternoon, is likely to affect the southern coast of Andhra Pradesh – the Nellore and Prakasam districts – and the northern coast of Tamil Nadu – spanning Chennai, Tiruvallur and Kanchipuram districts. 

PTI reported that 9,400 living along the Andhra Pradesh coast in Nellore district have been taken to relief camps.

Nellore District Collector, Mutyala Raju Revu said that three National Disaster Relief Force teams with a total of 116 members have been deployed.

“Six mandals of Sullurpeta, in Nellore district are likely to be the most affected. The cyclone is expected to make landfall on Monday evening at 90-100 kmph. Boats and ration has been kept ready,” Revu added.

The six mandals are currently experiencing rainfall with wind speed at 20 kmph. However, Nellore is expected to experience heavy rainfall in the evening.

Conditions at sea are very rough, categorised as “high to phenomenal” by the Met Department, and fishermen have been advised not to venture out to sea since Saturday.

Low lying areas of Chennai, Tiruvallur and Kanchipuram districts in Tamil Nadu and Nellore district in Andhra Pradesh are expected to be inundated once the cyclone makes landfall as a result of tidal waves.