Cyclone Vardah

In addition to 10 diving teams embarked on Indian Navy Ships Shivalik & Kadmatt, six diving teams readied up for immediate deployment, reports ANI.

Food and other essential commodities have been kept ready in adequate quantities, says Naidu.

#Cyclonevardah:Expected time of landfall - between 1400-1700 IST of 12th Dec.

& mdash; NDMA India (@ndmaindia) December 12, 2016

Tamil Nadu: Trees uprooted, damage caused in parts of Chennai #cyclonevardah pic.twitter.com/pLFzVJQxvj

& mdash; ANI (@ANI_news) December 12, 2016

With severe cyclonic storm Vardah set to make landfall between Sriharikota and Chennai, a state of high alert is being maintained in SPS Nellore district of Andhra Pradesh. Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu directed the Nellore district administration to evacuate people in about 255 low-lying areas to safer places even as the district started receiving rainfall since morning.

Six Indian Army columns ready and on standby for rescue & relief operations, reports TOI's Rajat Pandit.

Chennai has so far recorded 14.5 cm of rainfall since last night, reports TOI's B Sivakumar.

Two ships of Navy - Shivalik & Kadmatt already in north of area ready to render immediate assistance if required: ANI quotes Navy chief PRO as saying.

Airport director G Chandramouli told the TOI that since midnight till 8 am on Monday, a total of 46 flights departed from the Chennai airport. Twenty seven flights were diverted to other airports and five have been cancelled.

Around 25 incoming flights, including those from international destinations, were diverted to the nearby Hyderabad and Bangalore airports due to strong winds and poor visibility, airport officials said.

Cyclone Vardah is about 61 kms east-northeast of Chennai at noon, likely to make landfall in next couple of hours: IMD.

The Puducherry government today took precautionary steps to prevent tourists and other people from going close to the sea shore. Police personnel were deployed on the entire two-and-a-half kilometre stretch of beach road and barricades were also put on all roads close to the sea shore. All schools and colleges are closed today. Control rooms were opened with toll free numbers 1070 and 1077 for people.

Tamil Nadu chief minister O Panneerselvam reviews the safety arrangements with chief secretary P Rama Mohana Rao and revenue secretary B Chandra Mohan.

All is well & plant operation is normal. The plant is in touch with IMD, says National Disaster Management Authority.

Tamil Nadu: Rain and strong winds lash Chennai (Visuals from Chennai Airport) #cyclonevardah pic.twitter.com/tnjnanktyy

& mdash; ANI (@ANI_news) December 12, 2016

Chennai city health officer says all 407 Amma canteens are to serve free food until tonight.

ACT shuts down service in parts of Chennai. Vodafone, Airtel continue to provide both data and voice, reports TOI's Rachel Chitra.

Tree fell near South Boag Road blocking traffic flow from Nandanam signal to Gemini flyover. Traffic slow moving near Nandanam signal junction.

Tree fell on GST Road opposite ALANDUR Metro, affecting traffic. Police personnel removing the branches.

Private banks - ICICI, HDFC, Axis Bank, Lakshmi Vilas Bank, Karur Vysya Bank ask staff to leave for home, while the public-sector banks, including SBI have left it on the discretion of deputy general managers.

Due to heavy wind and rain, vehicles have stopped on road with parking lights on.

Fewer cabs plying across Chennai city. Uber is almost out of cabs, while Ola is running on peak pricing now.

National Disaster Response Force chief R K Pachnanda said while eight teams are ready in various areas of Tamil Nadu, seven are in Andhra Pradesh, apart from few others in nearby locations.

Flights continuing to divert away from Chennai as Cyclone #Vardah makes landfall. 20 prior diverts this morning. https://t.co/9l549rD4AK pic.twitter.com/t9bUgEc06X

& mdash; Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) December 12, 2016