Cyclone Michaung | 8 Dead, Crocodile On Streets, Cars in Water: Chennai Sees 2015-like Rain Horror

Chennai was battered by torrential rains all through Monday, with eight deaths reported, schools and offices closed and the runway of one of India’s busiest airports submerged. With Cyclone Michaung expected to make landfall near Bapatla on the Andhra Pradesh coast on Tuesday noon, it has evoked memories of December 2015 when at least 290 people died after catastrophic floods.

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The India Meteorological Department said the severe cyclonic storm is likely to have sustained winds of 90 to 100 kmph, gusting to 110 kph. Flight operations at the Chennai airport will stay suspended till 9 am on Tuesday. More than 80 train services, including Vande Bharat and Shatabdi, were cancelled. Tamil Nadu police said the rain-related deaths occurred due to various reasons, including the collapse of a building wall, electrocution and falling of trees in separate incidents across the city.

Heavy rains lashed parts of Andhra Pradesh under the influence of the intense weather system even as the state government issued an alert to the eight districts of Tirupati, Nellore, Prakasam, Bapatla, Krishna, West Godavari, Konaseema, and Kakinada. The IMD said the system was moving in the sea at a speed of 10 kmph and lay centered around 80 km southeast of Nellore, 120 km north-northeast of Chennai, 210 km south of Bapatla and 250 km south-southwest of Machilipatnam at 5.30 pm.

“It is likely to intensify gradually and move nearly northwards almost parallel and close to the southern Andhra Pradesh coast and cross it between Nellore and Machilipatnam, close to Bapatla, during the forenoon of December 5 as a severe cyclonic storm with a maximum sustained wind speed of 90-100 kmph, gusting to 110 kmph,” it posted on X, formerly Twitter.

Media showed images of cars floating as water coursed through the streets of Chennai as rain pelted down. One of the viral videos even showed a crocodile on the flooded streets of the city. Several areas were submerged in knee-deep water and there have been power cuts since morning.

Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin, referring to the forecast by the IMD predicting more rains, assured that the government is taking all measures on a war-footing in response to historic rainfall. He urged representatives of local bodies and members of various government departments to actively participate in relief activities during these challenging times.

The IMD’s Chennai department issued thunderstorm nowcast warning in Tamil Nadu for the next three hours. It forecast moderate thunderstorm and lightning with moderate rain over Chennai, Tiruvalluvar, Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram, Ranippettai, Vellore and Tirupattur districts. It also forecast light thunderstorm and lightning with light to moderate rain in isolated places over Thiruvannamalai, Villupuram, Pudukottai, Thanjavur, Kanyakumari, Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi and Theni districts.

Andhra Pradesh braces for heavy rains

The IMD said parts of Andhra Pradesh are likely to get more than 200 mm of rain over the next 24 hours. Authorities have evacuated nearly 7,000 people in eight coastal districts and were preparing to evacuate a total of 28,000. The evacuation process is underway and 181 of the 308 required relief camps have been opened.

Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy directed officials to be on high alert for taking up relief measures. “Special officers have been appointed for all cyclone-affected districts, besides releasing Rs 2 crore each for rescue and relief works. The special officers will work in close coordination with the collectors and, if more funds are needed, the government will comply with the request,” he said.

Reddy called on the official machinery to tap into its experience of handling Cyclone Hudhud and take advance relief measures, engage the services of ward and village secretariats, including tapping the services of village clinics, Rythu Bharosa Kendras and others. In the event of civic amenities being adversely affected in any area, the officials should restore those immediately, he said.

Officials have been directed to focus on safeguarding crops, especially by procuring paddy and saving the kharif harvest. Until Sunday, up to 97,000 tonnes of paddy has been collected while 6.5 lakh tonnes of paddy moved to storage locations with instructions to manage the moisture content.

Here is all you need to know:

1. At least 70 flights were cancelled and 33 diverted to Bengaluru even as operations were suspended at the Chennai airport till 9 am on Tuesday. Media showed pictures of grounded planes with their wheels submerged as the rain pelted down.
2. Taiwan’s Foxconn and Pegatron halted Apple iPhone production at their facilities near Chennai due to heavy rains. The industries department said only “essential supply companies” will function for now. Schools, colleges, offices and banks were closed in at least four districts due to “severe weather conditions”.
3. At least 86 express train services were fully cancelled, including Chennai Central-Coimbatore Vande Bharat Express, Chennai Central-KSR Bengaluru Shatabdi Express, Mysuru-Chennai Central Shatabdi Express, Chennai Central-Tirupati Express, KSR Bengaluru-Chennai Central Brindavan Express among others. Three trains were diverted and 12 trains short-terminated and short-originated from Katpadi, Arakkonam, Tiruvallur, Avadi, Chennai Beach and Chengalpattu. Chennai suburban rail traffic across all sections were temporarily suspended. Passenger specials are being operated to clear stranded passengers.
4. The railway ministry set up an emergency control cell in Chennai and a war room at the Rail Bhawan in New Delhi. Additional enquiry counters and special booths have been set up at Chennai Central, Chennai Egmore and Katpadi to assist passengers and for arrangement of refunds. All section supervisors, commercial inspectors, ticket checking staff are now engaged in special monitoring tasks and to render assistance to passengers on account of cancellations and diversions of trains.
5. Providing statistics on rainfall, the chief minister said more than 15 locations in Chennai received over 20 cm rain, with Perungudi recording the highest at 29.16 cm. Chengalpet district and Avadi in Thiruvallur district also experienced heavy rainfall, with 27.6 cm being recorded in Avadi and 22.04 cm in Mahabalipuram in the last 24 hours.
6. A total of 236 relief camps have been set up across eight locations in Tamil Nadu, providing food, water and other basic amenities to 9,634 individuals. Stalin said 725 personnel from police, fire and rescue, SDRF and NDRF were involved in relief operations. He further said 250 personnel were solely engaged in relief and rehabilitation efforts in Chennai. Additionally, 1,929 electricity pumps were employed to remove water from inundated areas. He also said orders had been issued for seven more ministers to partake in relief and rehabilitation works.
7. Stalin further said an IAS officer had been deployed in each of the Greater Chennai Corporation, Tambaram and Avadi corporations to oversee relief and rehabilitation. He said at least 8,592 EB personnel, supervised by electricity minister Thangam Thennarasu, were engaged in restoration works. To assist residents in low-lying areas, the CM said 350 boats were prepared while 4,320 doctors were posted to provide treatment and curb the spread of rain-related diseases. Additionally, at least 1,000 sanitary workers from other districts were instructed to join relief operations in Chennai, Tambaram and Avadi corporations. He noted that 1,238 machines were in use to remove uprooted trees in rain-affected areas, with around 337 machines solely dedicated to clearing fallen trees in Chennai.
8. Union home minister Amit Shah on Monday spoke to the chief ministers of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Puducherry and assured them of all necessary central help. Shah also said adequate deployment of NDRF personnel has already been made and additional teams are ready for further assistance.
9. The Indian Army swiftly responded to a critical plea for assistance in Greater Chennai Corporation. It started rescue and relief operations equipped with boats, flood relief stores and vehicles. The army successfully rescued and assisted about 300 fellow citizens to safety.
10. Agromet issued advisories and best practices to be followed to protect crops against the forecast of heavy rains, gusty winds and hailstorms in various parts of India. It said: “Heavy rainfall, gusty winds and hailstorms have been forecast over various parts of India in the coming days. Agromet advisories and best practices should be followed to stay safe and protect your crops,” said the IMD in a post on X, formerly Twitter.

(With PTI inputs)