Chennai: Over 10,000 people living in Pulicat and Puzhal in Tiruvallur district on the outskirts of the state capital were moved to safety as Cyclone Vardah began its onslaught on Monday morning. Pulicat and Puzhal were the worst affected as the cyclone began its landfall from these places on Monday afternoon packed with wind speeds up to 110 km per hour.
Vardah did not spare birds either at the Pulicat Lake Bird Sanctuary that was also affected, while several hundred boats, fishing nets and other apparatus were missing from the coast.
The fishermen, who had not taken the district administration warning seriously and did not move to safe places and temporary shelters operated by the Government, were forcibly evacuated.
After water entered into their hamlet, they realised their mistake and rushed to the temporary shelters. Meanwhile, several hundred fishermen mostly youth and others were stranded in the village and power supply was cut-off.
Several hundred boats, fishing nets and other apparatus were missing from the coast following the cyclone, which uprooted EB post, lampposts and trees. Several houses were faced the brunt of the cyclone.
This morning, the revenue officials rushed to the village and moved them with the help of boats to the nearby temporary shelter in a government school.
A woman, speaking to reporters, said, "People in the village had not taken the alert seriously. Only after water entered into the village, we realised the mistake and over 1,500 people rushed to this shelter. Many others were moved to other shelters. Many were stranded in the village. All our boats and nets were missing". Container terminals at Ennore and other areas were also severely affected due to the impact of the cyclone.
Similarly, people in Puzhal, Ennore, Ponneri and surrounding areas in Thiruvallur district were also severely affected by the cyclone. Nearly 10000 persons were moved to safe places and temporary shelters in the area and more than 11,000 food packets were distributed.
