Oman Air cancels flight to Chennai as Cyclone Vardah approaches

Muscat: As a very severe cyclone nears the south Indian state of Tamil Nadu, Oman Air has cancelled its flight to Chennai.
Vardah, the very severe cyclone, is nearing northern coast of Tamil Nadu and is likely to make a landfall today at around 1:30pm with wind speed of a wind speed of 100 to 110kmph gusting to 120kmph.
Oman Air tweeted on its official twitter handle that it has cancelled its flight to Chennai.
“Flight WY253 MCT-MAA, Dec 12, was cancelled due to bad weather. We apologize for the inconvenience caused,” the tweet read.
According to reports, rail and flight services have been affected already.
Also read: Heavy rains pound coastal Tamil Nadu as Cyclone Vardah nears
“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,” the Indian media reported quoting airport officials.
Sri Lankan airlines has also cancelled its flight to Chennai from Colombo.
According to Indian meteorological department’s today’s advisory, Vardah, laying over west central and adjoining south west Bay of Bengal is nearing Tamil Nadu coast near Chennai, Puducherry and Andhra Pradesh Coast during past 06 hrs with a speed of 13kmph.
“The system is very likely to move nearly westwards and cross north Tamil Nadu and south Andhra Pradesh coasts, close to Chennai as a severe cyclonic storm with a wind speed of 100 to 110kmph gusting to 120kmph by today afternoon,” the Indian meteorological department said in its advisory.
The ‘Vardah’ has already severely impacted Chennai and coastal areas of Tamil Nadu with raging sea and racing wind.
More than 9,500 people have been evacuated from the low-lying areas in four districts of Chennai, Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur and Villupuram.
Local administrations have also set up 262 relief centres. More than 10,000 rescue workers were pressed into the service.
“People are advised to remain in safe places and cooperate with state government officials and disaster management agencies,” India’s National Disaster Management Authority of India (NDMA) tweeted.