At least ten flights to Chennai airport were diverted to Bengaluru due to heavy winds
Tropical Storm Michaung is expected to intensify and reach the north Tamil Nadu coast on December 4 before making landfall in southern Andhra Pradesh on Tuesday. Heavy rain continued to pound the city and nearby districts on Monday leading to the inundation of low-lying areas.
Chennai and nearby Chengalpet, Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur districts received widespread rains since late Sunday under the impact of cyclonic storm Michaung.
Chennai Airport has suspended operations for two hours due to heavy rain and flooding. At least ten flights to Chennai airport were diverted to Bengaluru due to heavy winds. Heavy inundation was also witnessed at the Qlandur subway.
Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) urged people to stay indoors because of “sustained winds at a speed of 35 to 80km/hr”.
“Dear Chennaiites next bands are moving into the city, sustained winds at a speed of 35 to 80km/hr. GCC requests you to stay indoors. Please do not go out unless very essential. Many roads are inundated. Stay home and stay safe. Please reach us at 1913 for emergencies and rescue,” an X (formerly Twitter) post by GCC said.
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Heavy rainfall is anticipated in Tamil Nadu on Monday and Tuesday. The state government has deployed disaster response force personnel and established relief centres to accommodate residents of vulnerable areas.
“We have given warnings, particularly in Chennai, Chengalpattu, and Kanchipuram districts. heavy rainfall expected,” said Balachandran, Deputy Director General of the Meteorology Center, Chennai.
MTC Chennai stated that many “scheduled bus services will not be operational” due to “torrential rains and heavy inundation in the roads”.
“Due to torrential rains and heavy inundation in the roads due to Cyclone Michuang in Chennai and neighbouring areas, we are unable to operate many of the scheduled bus services today. Citizens are requested to stay home and be safe,” a statement by MTC said.
Tamil Nadu Minister for Youth Welfare and Sports Development Udhayanidhi Stalin inspected the rainwater drainage works in areas including Avvai Shanmugam Road, Avvai Shanmugam Road, Jani Jan Khan Road and Triplicane Highway of the Chepauk Triplicane constituency.
The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a warning about the arrival of Cyclonic Storm Michaung, which entered over Southwest Bay of Bengal about 210km east-northeast of Puducherry, 150km east-southeast of Chennai by 23:30, December 3.
The storm is likely to move north-northwestwards, intensify and cross between Nellore and Machilipatnam (Andhra Pradesh) during the forenoon of December 5 as a Severe Cyclonic Storm, the weather agency said.
Michaung, named by Myanmar, meaning “strength or resilience,” intensified from a deep depression over the Bay of Bengal on Sunday. As of 5.30 am on Sunday, the storm was centred approximately 300 km east-southeast of Puducherry, 310 km southeast of Chennai, 440 km southeast of Nellore, 550 km south-southeast of Bapatla, and 550 km south-southeast of Machilipatnam.
