Chennai: Cyclone Michaung intensifies, 2 dead due to heavy rain

In Chennai’s Kanathur neighbourhood, a recently built wall collapsed due to strong winds and heavy rain, leaving two people dead and one injured. Flight operations at Chennai Airport were disrupted by Cyclone Michaung, which the IMD reported intensified into a severe cyclonic storm on Monday. The runway was flooded, multiple flights were cancelled, and others were diverted due to heavy rain. Due to severe weather, flight operations have been suspended until 11 p.m. The Chennai airport had earlier stopped accepting arrivals between 9:17 and 11:30 a.m.

Monday night saw intense rainfall on Chennai as Cyclone Michaung moved closer to the coasts of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.

A crocodile was seen on the road as a result of the severe waterlogging caused by the heavy rain and the rising water levels in low-lying areas.

“Severe cyclonic storm Michaung over west-central and adjoining southwest Bay of Bengal lay centered at 11:30 am about 90 km northeast of Chennai and 140 km southeast of Nellore. Likely to intensify gradually, move nearly northwards and cross south Andhra Pradesh coast between Nellore and Machilipatnam close to Bapatla of December 5 as severe cyclonic storm,” IMD said on X.

On Monday and Tuesday, the Tamil Nadu government proclaimed public holidays in the districts of Chennai, Kanchipuram, Tiruvallur, and Chengalpattu. In light of Michaung, it encouraged staff members of private companies to “work from home.” The provision of necessities like milk and medical facilities would be available.

In response to Michaung, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has sent out 21 teams to Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Puducherry; eight more teams have been held in reserve.

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