Chennai Rains: 2 Dead, Airport Shut Till 11.30 pm Today As Cyclone Batters TN Capital

The Tamil Nadu government has declared Monday (December 4) a public holiday in Chennai, Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram and Chengalpattu districts as the cyclonic storm Michaung approaches. The heavy rains have also forced the authorities to close the airport as well.

Meanwhile, tragedy struck as two guest workers residing under a thatched roof near an under-construction building in Kanathur lost their lives when a wall collapsed. Two victims have been identified as Zakir, 20 and Afrose, 30 from Jharkhand.

However, essential services such as milk supply and healthcare facilities would be operational. The railways have cancelled a total of 118 trains.

Heavy rainfall in Chennai has caused massive waterlogging in parts of the city. Meteorological Centre, Chennai at 7 am said, "Moderate thunderstorms and lightning with moderate rain, and intense spells at times is very likely at many places over Thiruvallur, Chennai, Chengalpattu and Kancheepuram districts of Tamilnadu. Moderate thunderstorm and lightning with moderate rain is very likely few places over Ranippettai, Thiruvannamalai, Villupuram, Cuddalore, Mayiladuthurai, Thanjavur, Ariyalur, Perambalur, Kallakurichy, Vellore, Thirupattur, Dharmapuri, Krishnagiri Salem, Namakkal, Thiruchirapalli, Thanjavur, Thiruvarur and Nagapattinam districts of Tamilnadu and Puducherry in the next three hours."

Water logging has been experienced in several parts of the city like Maduravoyal, Porur, Saligaramam, and Valasaravakkam. Trees have been uprooted due to strong winds in many places.

The general public and fishermen have been alerted about the cyclonic storm and over a 1,000 boats have docked at fishing harbours including Krishnampattinam.

The India Meteorological Department said the cyclonic Storm "Michaung" (pronounced Migjaum) over southwest Bay of Bengal lay about 250 km east of Puducherry, 230 km east-southeast of Chennai, and 350 km southeast of Nellore (Andhra Pradesh). It is likely to intensify further and reach west-central Bay of Bengal off south Andhra Pradesh and adjoining north Tamil Nadu coasts by December 4 forenoon.

Thereafter, it is likely to move nearly northwards and cross south Andhra Pradesh coast between Nellore and Machilipatnam during forenoon of December 5 as a severe cyclonic storm with a maximum sustained wind speed of 90-100 kmph gusting to 110 kmph.

As regards north coastal Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, the IMD has forecast light to moderate rainfall at most places, heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places and isolated extremely heavy rainfall on December 3 and 4 apart from isolated heavy rainfall on December 5.

Gale wind speed reaching 65-75 kmph gusting to 85 kmph is prevailing over southwest Bay of Bengal. It is likely to gradually increase, becoming 70-80 kmph, gusting to 90 kmph from December 3 evening for the subsequent 12 hours. It will gradually decrease thereafter.

The government said that the Greater Chennai Corporation commissioner and district collectors have been advised to house people living in vulnerable areas in cyclone shelters.

People living in low-lying areas have been asked to reach the cyclone shelters in advance. The public has been cautioned against going near waterbodies and taking selfies and parking vehicles under trees.

Changes In Metro Timings

After the government announced a holiday, the Chennai Metro Rail schedule has undergone adjustments for the day.

According to a press statement from the Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL), trains will run as per the regular schedule from 5 am to 11 pm. Notably, during the periods of 8 am to 11 am and 5 pm to 8 pm, trains will be operational at intervals of six minutes.

Additionally, during the time slots of 5 am to 8 am, 11 am to 5 pm, and 8 pm to 10 pm, trains will be available every seven minutes. For the night hours between 10 pm and 11 pm on Monday, the train frequency is set to be every 15 minutes, as specified in the press release.

Rail and air Services Suffered cancellations and Delays

Many passengers awaiting their flights were stranded for hours as flights could not take off due to gusty wind and rains and also since water from Adyar River had entered the runway.

"In view of water flowing above danger level, the bridge no.14 between Basin bridge and Vyasarpadi has been suspended on account of safety reasons," and six trains originating from the Dr.MGR Chennai Central to destinations including Coimbatore and Mysuru were cancelled on Monday morning, the Southern Railway said, adding full refund shall be granted to all passengers of the above trains.

As many as 14 subways in the city have been closed due to inundation, the city police said.

In 11 places, uprooted trees were removed.

At the airport, 12 domestic outbound services, including to destinations like Ahmedabad and Thiruvananthapuram were cancelled. Four international services, including to Dubai and Srilanka were cancelled by a private carrier, officials said.

Three arriving international services were diverted to Bengaluru.