Cyclone Vardah hit Chennai on Monday with heavy rains pounding the city and high velocity winds uprooting trees and building panels. The cyclonic storm is expected to take about four hours to cross land completely.

The Tamil Nadu government had declared a holiday for educational institutions in Chennai, Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur, besides coastal taluks of Villupuram. 

Rail and flight services were affected, with around 25 incoming flights, including those from international destinations, being diverted to the nearby Hyderabad and Bangalore airports.

Residents of the state and its capital Chennai posted videos of the strong winds and rains in the state as the cyclone hit. Here are some of them: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bsSjYZ803Mg