118 trains cancelled as Cyclone ‘Michaung’ to intensify, Tamil Nadu on ‘high alert’

This deep depression over the Southwest Bay of Bengal is expected to intensify into a Cyclonic Storm ‘Michaung’ in the next 24 hours, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Saturday. Coastal districts in southern Andhra Pradesh and northern Tamil Nadu are bracing for heavy rains.

The IMD reported that the cyclonic formation was located roughly 440 km southeast of Chennai and 420 km east-southeast of Puducherry.

Over the course of next day, the deep depression is predicted to intensify into a cyclonic storm over the Southwest Bay of Bengal and move west-northwestward. The IMD’s most recent forecast stated that it would then proceed northwestward and arrive at the west-central Bay of Bengal off the coasts of south Andhra Pradesh and north Tamil Nadu by Monday afternoon.

Cyclone Michaung is predicted to reach its maximum wind speed of 80–90 kmph, with gusts up to 100 kmph, on December 5 as it crosses the coast of South Andhra Pradesh between Nellore and Machilipatnam.

Additionally, the IMD has said that damage to buildings and infrastructure is predicted in the coastal districts of Puducherry, North Tamil Nadu, and South Andhra Pradesh.

Between December 3 and 6, the Southern Railway cancelled 118 trains in Tamil Nadu, including long-distance trains in other states.

Trains Nizamuddin Chennai Duronto Express, the Kochuveli – Gorakhpur Raptisagar Express, the Gaya Chennai Express, the Patna–Ernakulam Super Fast Express, the Vijayawada Janshatabdi, the Barauni – Coimbatore Special train, the Bengaluru–Howrah Weekly Super Fast Express, and the Trivandrum–New Delhi Kerala Express.