Cyclone Fengal: Chennai flights cancelled, schools, colleges shut in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry; IMD sounds red alert in…

According to the IMD, heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely to occur at several places, while extremely heavy rainfall is expected to lash isolated places in parts of northern Tamil Nadu and Puducherry under the influence of Cyclone Fengal.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a ‘red alert’ in parts of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry in wake of Cyclone ‘Fengal’, which is to make a landfall on November 30 afternoon. According to the weather agency, the cyclonic storm which is hovering over Bay of Bengal, will make a landfall, close to Puducherry, with wind speed upto 90 kmph.

According to the IMD, heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely to occur at several places, while extremely heavy rainfall is expected to lash isolated places in parts of northern Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. Earlier in the day, the IMD said the deep depression intensified into cyclonic storm, now dubbed as ‘Fengal’ (pronounced as Feinjal).

Flights cancelled at Chennai airport

Meanwhile, in wake of the storm, over a dozen flights to and from Chennai were cancelled by authorities due to inclement weather conditions. According to officials, as many as 13 flights, including two IndiGo flights — Chennai-Mangaluru and Chennai-Trichy– were cancelled, after IMD announced that the deep depression over the Bay of Bengal had turned into a cyclonic storm.

According to an IMD update (8.40 pm on Friday), Fengal was about 240 km east-northeast of Nagappattinam, 230 km east-southeast of Puducherry and 250 km southeast of Chennai.

“It is likely to move west-northwestwards and cross north Tamil Nadu-Puducherry coasts between Karaikal and Mahabalipuram close to Puducherry as a cyclonic storm with a wind speed of 70-80 kmph gusting to 90 kmph during the afternoon 30th November,” the weather agency said.

Schools, colleges shut; holiday announced in Tamil Nadu

In view of the impending cyclonic storm, the Tamil Nadu government has ordered the closure of all schools, colleges, and other educational institutions, while also declaring November 30 as a holiday in the southern state. Authorities have appealed people to remain indoors and urged private companies to allow employees to work from home.

In Chennai, public transport has been suspended on the East Coast Road and Old Mahabalipuram Road, which is close to the shoreline, on Friday afternoon.

Minister for Revenue and Disaster Management KKSSR Ramachandran held a meet at the state emergency operations centre with senior officials to review preparatory and relief measures.

“Tamil Nadu State Disaster Management Authority urges the general public to avoid visiting beaches, amusement parks and attending recreational events. The general public are requested to cooperate fully with the disaster prevention measures taken by the Government of Tamil Nadu,” read an official statement issued on Friday.

Additionally, construction companies have been  asked to take precautionary measures to ensure that equipment, machinery does not fall down. Similarly, those who had erected advertisement hoardings must ensure that these were swept away.

Red alert issued for Tamil Nadu, Puducherry

The IMD has issued a red alert in wake of Fengal’s landfall in parts of Puducherry and Tamil Nadu. According to the weather agency, very heavy to extremely heavy rains are expected to lash parts of Tamil Nadu’s Chennai, Tiruvallur, Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram, Villuppuram, Kallakurichi, Cuddalore districts, as well as Puducherry, on Saturday.

It said that heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely to occur at isolated places in Ranipet, Tiruvannamalai, Vellore, Perambalur, Ariyalur, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Mayiladuthurai, Nagapattinam districts and Karaikal.

“On December 1, heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely at isolated places in interior Tamil Nadu, and on December 2 and 3, heavy rainfall is likely at isolated places in the state,” the IMD said in a update.

Meanwhile, complying with an advisory, 4,153 boats have returned to the shore and 2,229 relief camps were ready for use if needed, the state government said, adding that a total of 471 people belonging to 164 families have been accommodated in six relief centres in Tiruvarur and Nagapattinam districts.

Boats, generators, motor pumps and all other necessary machinery and equipment are ready in districts and NDRF and state teams have been deployed wherever needed, including Nagapattinam, Mayiladuthurai, Tiruvarur, Cuddalore, Thanjavur, Chengelpet and Chennai.

Senior officials assigned to supervise and coordinate related tasks with district authorities are stationed in their respective districts.

Chennai and nearby districts of Chengelpet, Kanchipuram and Tiruvallur and the delta districts including Mayiladuthurai, Nagappatinam and Tiruvarur witnessed light to moderate rainfall and a few places recorded heavy showers.

(With PTI inputs)