Bengaluru: “The city can expect light to moderate rains over many parts of the city from Monday evening because of Cyclone Vardah. But we won't experience anything as close to Chennai. The city will experience light to moderate rain. However, Wednesday onwards south-interior Karnataka is expected to get moderate rainfall with one or two areas experiencing heavy rainfall. Thereafter, the system will be isolated throughout the state,” said Mr Sundar Maitri, Director, Bengaluru Met department.
He advised Bengalureans not to hit the panic button. According to several weather models, a weakened Cyclone Vardah will move west across Tamil Nadu and Karnataka before petering out in the Arabian Sea, he said.
Officials at the Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre confirmed that the city can expect moderate rainfall in the coming two days because of the severe cyclonic storm. “By the time the cyclone hits Karnataka, it will be depression and the wind velocity will lose its steam. Till Wednesday, we can expect rainfall. Cloudy weather will continue till Thursday. We are expecting good showers in Kolar, Chikkaballapura, Mysuru, Bengaluru and Tumakuru. The rainfall will be erratic and not continuous,” said an official from the Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre, adding that a few trees could get uprooted.
Heavy rainfall in Karnataka.
“These rains will result in a marginal drop in the temperatures,” the official said.
Flights stopped, diverted
Cyclone Vardah made an impact on air traffic on the southeastern coast and airspace on Monday. Due to the inclement weather, 16 flights were diverted from Chennai to Bengaluru. A Kempegowda International Airport spokesperson told Deccan Chronicle that 11 arrival flights from Chennai were cancelled. From the city, 14 departure flights to Chennai were cancelled due to the cyclone.
Bus, train services not cancelled
- Despite Cyclone Vardah wreaking havoc, all Chennai-bound trains and buses were operated as per schedule. A senior officer from KSRTC said that there was no change in the schedule of any bus. “All schedules were operated till Monday night,” he said.
- South Western Railway too operated all its trains to Chennai and other parts of Tamil Nadu.
