effect of cyclone fangal
Cyclone Fengal Updates: Cyclone Fangal caused heavy rains in northern Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, which continued this morning. The Meteorological Department has issued a high alert of heavy rain. Fengal reached near the coast of Union Territory Puducherry on Saturday. Chennai airport had to be closed due to the rains caused by the cyclone, many parts of the city are flooded.
See updates in 10 points
- Cyclone Fengal has started making landfall near the coast of Puducherry. The IMD said the cyclonic storm is likely to cross the coasts of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry in the next three to four hours.
- The heavy rains and strong winds caused by the storm continue to wreak havoc. Flight and train services have been canceled in Chennai.
- In a rain-related incident, a migrant worker reportedly died after being struck by lightning while trying to withdraw cash from an ATM in Chennai.
- Cyclonic storm Fengal crossed northern Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coasts close to Puducherry. During this period the wind speed reached 90 km per hour. It was centered over northern coastal Tamil Nadu and Puducherry yesterday, close to Puducherry. It will continue to move slowly west-southwestwards and gradually weaken into a deep depression during the next 3 hours.
- After landfall, it will continue to move west-southwestwards and gradually weaken into a deep depression during the next 6 hours. The system is being continuously monitored by Doppler weather radar in Chennai. Parts of Chennai airport submerged due to heavy rains as Cyclone Fengal approaches Puducherry coast.
- Operations at the Chennai airport remained suspended, while people living in low-lying areas in the neighboring Union Territory of Puducherry were evacuated to safer places.
- In Puducherry, NDRF team has arrived from Arakkonam to join the relief and rehabilitation operations. According to District Magistrate Kulothungan, cyclone ‘Fengal’ had crossed the coast by yesterday evening. The entire road and many tourist places near the beach have been closed so that people do not go near the beaches. Schools and colleges remained closed on Saturday also.
- The speed of local trains has also slowed down in Chennai. In view of the situation, Southern Railway has also announced changes in train schedules and termination of train operations at some places.
- The forecast advised fishermen to stay away from the coast and predicted waves up to one meter (three feet) high, posing a risk of flooding in low-lying coastal areas.
- Fengal hit the Sri Lankan coast earlier this week, killing at least 12 people, including six children.
