Chennai, Dec 12 (PTI) Heavy rains accompanied by high- velocity winds pounded the city and coastal districts of north Tamil Nadu as severe cyclonic storm “Vardah” commenced its landfall through the coast, killing two persons and forcing the evacuation of thousands of people from low-lying areas.

The cyclone, that triggered strong winds of nearly 100 km/h, uprooted hundreds of trees and disrupted power supply lines besides land and air transport, throwing normal life out of gear.

“The cyclone is still crossing, only the eye portion has crossed… Presently it is calm. The entire system is expected to fully cross coast between 6 PM and 7 PM,” a top India Meteorological Department (IMD) official told PTI here.

Showers and heavy winds will resume once the eastern portion of the system begins to blow over, the official said.

However, the respite is Vardah is “weakening” and is expected to be turn into a “cyclonic storm” in next three hours, said M Mohapatra, IMD Additional Director General (Services).

“The Cyclone made its landfall near Chennai between 2:30 PM to 4:30 PM bringing in winds clocking 11-120 kmph. It is showing signs of weakening and the wind speed will reduce to 60-70 kmph in next 3-4 hours,” he said.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam urged people in Chennai, Tiruvallur and Kancheepuram districts – where “Vardah” brought life to a virtual halt – not to venture out of their homes till an official announcement was made.

Two persons had died and 24 huts were damaged, most of them in Tiruvallur district, according to an official statement.

About 8,000 people from low-lying areas in north Chennai, Pazhaverkadu in Tiruvallur district and villages off Mamallapuram, in Kanchipuram district were safely evacuated to 95 relief shelters, officials said.

Authorities here were seen swiftly removing uprooted trees and restoring snapped power lines, trying to bring normalcy to enable vehicular traffic to resume.

The IMD’s latest inputs indicated that heavy wind and rains would continue till about 7 PM, Panneerselvam said, adding all arrangements are in place to handle the situation.

Coastal regions of northern Tamil Nadu – Chennai, Tiruvallur and Kanchipuram – continue to be on high alert even as people in low-lying areas were accommodated in relief centres.

Fishermen from Adyar and Tiruvanmiyur areas were accommodated in local schools and food and blankets were being distributed to them. State Ministers are visiting relief centres and inspecting distribution of food to the people, an official release said.

Under the impact of “Vardah”, hundreds of trees were uprooted, land and air transport was disrupted and normal life was thrown out of gear in many areas. .