On 12 December Tropical Cyclone Vardah, a Category 1 hurricane, struck the Indian states of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh causing at least 10 deaths and forced authorities to move tens of thousands of people from low-lying areas. The storm uprooted trees, brought down electricity pylons, overturned cars and did extensive damage to buildings as it tore across the city of Chennai (Madras). Schools and businesses were shut and airport services suspended, as the cyclone made landfall with heavy rain and winds of up to 140km/h (85mph).

More than 170 relief camps have been set up in Chennai and several National Disaster and Response Force (NDRF) teams have been deployed to Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, according Krishna Kumar, a spokesman from the NDRF.

The storm moved inland, bringing gusty winds and torrential rainfall to the interior portions of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka states.