Cyclone Vayura live: storm crosses the coast near Sagarpet, weakens inland
Live updates as Cyclone Vayura makes landfall on the east coast. Evacuations, travel disruptions, power cuts and safety advice for Sagarpet, Kanakpur and Meenapalli.
Where to get help: call your district control room or the state disaster helpline. Cyclone shelters are open in all coastal blocks of Sagarpet, Kanakpur and Meenapalli. Keep your phone charged, store drinking water and do not go near the sea. We will keep this post at the top.
Posted by Pulse Desk
6:32 pm
That is all for now from our live coverage tonight. We will be back in the morning with damage assessments, travel updates and power restoration. Stay safe.
Posted by Pulse Desk
Key update
Coastal warning lowered
Forecasters have lowered the warning for coastal districts but say heavy rain will continue inland until tomorrow evening. Fishermen should still not go to sea until Monday.
Posted by Farah Siddiqui
6:03 pm
The airport will reopen at 6 am tomorrow as planned, if a runway inspection at first light finds no debris.
Posted by Pulse Desk
5:52 pm
Mobile coverage is returning in most of Sagarpet. Officials urge people to send short text messages rather than make long calls, to keep networks free for emergencies.
Posted by Vikram Chauhan
5:41 pm
The state government has announced immediate relief for families whose homes were damaged, and free rations at shelters for the next three days.
Posted by Pulse Desk
5:32 pm
Railways say services on the coastal route will resume tomorrow morning after tracks and overhead lines are inspected.
Posted by Arjun Sethi
5:23 pm
Power has been restored to the district hospital and the water treatment plant in Sagarpet, the electricity company says. Restoration to homes will follow area by area.
Posted by Pulse Desk
5:14 pm
In Sagarpet town, residents have begun clearing debris from lanes. Some shops have reopened to sell candles, batteries and drinking water.
Posted by Vikram Chauhan
5:05 pm
Rivers in the interior may rise after heavy rain tonight. Residents living near riverbanks in Meenapalli are being moved to higher ground as a precaution.
Posted by Pulse Desk
Key update
Vayura weakens
Vayura has weakened into a cyclonic storm and is now about 60 km inland, forecasters say. Heavy rain is expected over interior districts tonight.
Posted by Farah Siddiqui
4:47 pm
Roads between Sagarpet and Kanakpur are blocked by fallen trees at several points. Teams with power saws are working to clear them.
Posted by Pulse Desk
4:38 pm
Farm officials estimate that standing paddy on low-lying fields in Sagarpet and Kanakpur may have been flattened by wind and rain. Crop damage surveys will start on Monday.
Posted by Arjun Sethi
4:28 pm
Power company teams are on standby with poles, wires and transformers to begin restoration once winds fall below safe levels.
Posted by Pulse Desk
4:19 pm
First reports from villages near the coast: many thatched and tin-roof homes damaged, coconut and banana plantations flattened in places. A full assessment will begin at first light.
Posted by Vikram Chauhan
4:10 pm
Wind speeds in Sagarpet have started to ease, but rain continues. Officials are asking people not to leave shelters until they are told it is safe.
Posted by Pulse Desk
Key update
Landfall complete; storm to weaken
Landfall is complete, forecasters say. Vayura is moving north-west and is expected to weaken into a cyclonic storm over the next six hours.
Posted by Farah Siddiqui
3:52 pm
No deaths have been reported so far, the state disaster management office says. Two people have minor injuries from falling debris.
Posted by Pulse Desk
3:44 pm
The state transport corporation has suspended all bus services in the three coastal districts until tomorrow afternoon.
Posted by Arjun Sethi
3:36 pm
A woman went into labour at a shelter in Kanakpur. A health worker and a disaster response team took her to the community health centre by boat across a flooded stretch. Mother and baby are said to be well.
Posted by Vikram Chauhan
3:28 pm
Heavy rain is now falling across Meenapalli district too. Officials there have opened 120 more shelters.
Posted by Pulse Desk
Cyclone Vayura, a severe cyclonic storm that formed over the sea earlier this week, is crossing the east coast near the town of Sagarpet. Forecasters expect winds of 110 to 120 km/h, gusting to 135 km/h, at landfall, followed by very heavy rain over the coastal districts of Sagarpet, Kanakpur and Meenapalli.
Authorities have moved more than a lakh people from low-lying coastal villages to cyclone shelters and schools. Fishing has been banned until Monday, trains on the coastal route have been cancelled and the regional airport is closed.
What you should do
Stay indoors and away from windows until officials say it is safe.
Do not go near the sea, rivers or fallen power lines.
Keep drinking water, a torch, medicines and important documents in one bag.
Follow instructions from your district control room and local officials.
This page is updated as the storm moves inland. Times shown are in Indian Standard Time.
