Cyclone Michaung's Fury dirupts life in Chennai

New Delhi, Dec 4: Cyclonic storm Michaung, disrupted daily life in Chennai by heavy downpours and gusty winds. In response to the bad weather conditions, authorities have taken the precautionary measure of delaying maximum flights on Monday.

The cyclone has not only led to flight disruptions, with several flight cancellations and delays since Sunday midnight but has also wreaked havoc on the region's infrastructure. Airlines have issued advisories urging passengers to confirm their flight statuses before venturing out.

The cyclone is expected to make landfall on December 5 along the Andhra Pradesh and north Tamil Nadu coasts. Currently situated over the Southwest Bay of Bengal, the cyclonic storm is predicted to intensify further and move north-westwards, crossing the South Andhra Pradesh coast between Nellore and Machilipatnam on Monday noon.

It intensified from a deep depression over the Bay of Bengal, Nagapattinam in Tamil Nadu experienced high tides, while Chengalpattu reported damage to paddy crops due to the relentless rainfall, as reported by news agency PTI.

The coastal areas of Tamil Nadu, including Chennai, Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur, and Chengalpattu, have borne the brunt of heavy rains, causing waterlogging and disruptions to both flights and trains. Several subways in Chennai are closed, and local subway train operations are suspended, prompting authorities to declare a public holiday in specific areas on Monday.

Schools, colleges, the Chennai bench of the Madras High Court and all district courts in the city have been closed, reflecting the gravity of the situation.

Disturbing visuals of vehicles navigating through inundated streets have inundated social media platforms, showcasing the extent of the flooding. Other states, such as Andhra Pradesh and Odisha, are also preparing for the impact of Cyclone Michaung.

In Andhra Pradesh, around 14,000 residents have been evacuated across eight coastal districts, with plans to evacuate a total of 28,000 individuals based on the cyclone's trajectory and intensity.

Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, both states are on high alert. Section 144 of the Indian Penal Code has been imposed on coastal areas of Puducherry from 7 pm on December 3 until 6 pm on December 5 to mitigate potential risks to life and property.