Chennai Rains: Power Supply Restored, Airport Opens As Cyclone Michaung Heads To AP Coast

After creating havoc in Chennai for over 40 hours, Cyclone Michaung is poised for landfall by the Bapatla coast on Tuesday.

On Tuesday, north coastal Tamil Nadu and Puducherry are expected to witness light to moderate rainfall in most places and isolated heavy rainfall on Tuesday morning, decreasing thereafter, as per the latest IMD bulletin.

Check Top Developments:

• The forecast of reduced rainfall intensity comes as a relief after Cyclone Michaung wreaked havoc across Chennai and adjoining districts, causing flooding and disrupting normal life on Monday.

• The latest bulletin from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) states that coastal Andhra Pradesh will also continue to receive light to moderate rainfall at most places. Heavy to very heavy rainfall is expected at a few places with extremely heavy falls at isolated places over coastal Andhra Pradesh and Yanam on Tuesday.
• Additionally, exceptionally heavy rainfall at one or two places is likely over north coastal and adjoining south coastal Andhra Pradesh on Dec 5.

• The Severe Cyclonic Storm Michaung (pronounced as Mig-jaum) over Westcentral Bay of Bengal off south Andhra Pradesh and adjoining north Tamil Nadu coasts moved north-northwestwards with a speed of 07 kmph during the past 06 hours. At 0230 hours IST on Tuesday, it was centered 20 km north-northeast of Nellore, 170 km north of Chennai, 150 km south of Bapatla, and 210 km south-southwest of Machilipatnam.
• The bulletin noted that as the system is nearly moving northwards close to the coast, some parts of the wall cloud region lie over land.
• The cyclone is likely to move nearly northwards parallel and close to the south Andhra Pradesh coast and cross the south Andhra Pradesh coast between Nellore and Machilipatnam, close to Bapatla during the forenoon of Tuesday as a Severe Cyclonic Storm with a maximum sustained wind speed of 90-100 kmph, gusting to 110 kmph, the bulletin added.
• Residents in some parts of Chennai reported no rain since the early hours on Tuesday and mentioned that power services had been restored in those areas. However, train services to and from the city remain suspended.

• As per the reports, five people have died due to rain-related incidents.
• The cyclonic storm Michaung severely affected flight operations at Chennai airport. Flooding on the runway resulted in flight cancellations and diversions, leading to the suspension of operations until 9 am on Tuesday. However, it has opened today as the airfield is now open for all arrival and departure operations.
• In view of the current situation, the Tamil Nadu government December 5 as public holiday. educational institutions, banks and other offices will remain closed today. However, essential services such as milk supply and healthcare facilities would be operational.