Chennai Grapples With Long Power Cuts as Cyclone Fengal Strikes

As Cyclone Fengal swept through Chennai on Saturday, the storm's impact was felt deeply by the city's residents, many of whom experienced power outages throughout the day, DTNext reported.

The rains and strong winds disrupted normal life, leading to widespread frustration. Citizens voiced their concerns on social media, Tangedco, the Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation, to quickly restore electricity. The loss of power was mainly attributed to precautionary measures, particularly in areas with overhead electric supply networks, to minimize potential dangers such as electrocution in waterlogged areas.

Electricity Minister V Senthil Balaji has responded to the crisis by instructing Tangedco officials to cut the power supply only in the event of strong winds. He reviewed the utility's precautionary measures, highlighting that the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) had forecasted heavy rains and strong winds, with speeds between 60-90 kmph, for Chennai and neighbouring districts.

Despite the adverse weather conditions, Balaji reported that the power supply remained largely unaffected in the state, with suspensions only occurring in certain areas as a safety measure for the public.

Residents from various parts of Chennai, including Madipakkam, Pallavaram, Pallikaranai, Perungalathur, Chromepet, Velachery, Siruseri, Avadi, Pattabiram, Ambattur, Madhavaram, and Korattur, reported experiencing power outages. L Hussain, from Manali New Town, shared his ordeal, stating that the power was cut early on Saturday during heavy rainfall and was not restored until 7 pm, after the winds had weakened. Tangedco officials have stated that in waterlogged areas, the power was deliberately turned off to prevent electrocution.

To address the challenges faced by consumers in paying their electricity bills due to the cyclone, Minister Senthil Balaji announced a grace period. Consumers in Chennai, Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram, and Chengalpattu can pay their bills without penalties until December 10, provided their due dates fall between November 30 and December 9. This measure aims to alleviate some of the difficulties experienced by the residents during this challenging time.

Balaji has also called on Tangedco officials to prioritize restoring power to critical services such as hospitals, water supply lines, government offices, banks, and mobile phone towers. He stressed the importance of officials maintaining constant communication with the District Collector's office and the Fire Department during the rainy season. Additionally, he requested that workers involved in disaster relief efforts be equipped with necessary safety gear to ensure their protection while performing restoration tasks.

Cyclone Fengal brought heavy rains and strong winds to northern Tamil Nadu and Puducherry on Saturday, causing widespread waterlogging and forcing the closure of Chennai airport. While the storm made landfall near Puducherry, the government said.