Cyclone Vardah: Internet services down across India

In a statement, Vodafone said: "We are experiencing challenges in fiber media backbone in Chennai due to this phenomenon and as a result internet traffic moving via Trans Pacific Route may get impacted. This may result in intermittent degradation of services on our Internet Links."

Meanwhile, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has deployed its 19 flood and rescue teams in various parts of Andhra Pradesh, Puducherry and Tamil Nadu affected by cyclone Vardah.

In Andhra Pradesh, eight flood rescue teams of NDRF were prepositioned in coastal areas viz. Ongole, district- Prakasam (01 team), Vishakhapatnam (01 team), Chittoor (02 teams) and Nellore (04 teams).

Immediately after the landfall, NDRF teams started clearing the road by removing uprooted and fallen trees to establish normalcy in the affected areas. The teams in these areas have cleared all the major roads.

In Tamil Nadu, 10 flood rescue teams of NDRF have been deployed in various low lying areas. "02 teams are at Kanchipuram, 03 teams are at Tiruvallur and 05 teams are at Chennai. 01 team is at Puducherry," read a government statement.

The moment landfall took place, the teams began tree clearing operation as several trees had fallen due to the severe wind of high speed of 110-120 KMPH. The NDRF teams carried out the operation throughout night and have cleared the main roads of all the major places in Chennai.

In addition on Monday, NDRF team rescued two victims and recovered two bodies from a car which met with an accident in Mahabalipuram during the cyclone.

DG, NDRF is closely monitoring the situation round the clock. NDRF Control Room in Delhi is in touch with IMD and local state administration.