‘Michaung’ turns into ‘severe cyclonic storm’; heavy rainfall in Chennai

CHENNAI : Cyclonic storm ‘Michaung’ has turned into a severe Cyclonic storm, the India Meteorological Department said on Monday.

The cyclone is expected to hit the west-central Bay of Bengal off south Andhra Pradesh and adjoining north Tamil Nadu coasts by the forenoon of December 5.

According to IMD, the cyclonic storm is currently over the Southwest Bay of Bengal and is likely to continue to move northwestwards, intensify further and reach West central Bay of Bengal off south Andhra Pradesh and adjoining north Tamil Nadu coasts by Monday forenoon.

“It is likely to intensify gradually and move nearly northwards almost parallel and close to south Andhra Pradesh coast and cross South Andhra Pradesh coast between Nellore and Machilipatnam, close to Bapatla during forenoon of December 5 as a ‘Severe Cyclonic Storm’ with a maximum sustained wind speed of 90-100 kmph gusting to 110 kmph,” the weather agency said.

Heavy rainfall in Chennai

Heavy rainfall due to Cyclone Michaung caused severe waterlogging in several areas across Chennai on Monday. Several low-lying areas, including hospitals and many residential parts, witnessed inundation even as civic agency personnel were involved in clearing the stagnant water.

Trains and flight services have also been adversely affected due to the weather.
The Chennai bench of the Madras High Court and all district courts in the city have been shut.

Waterlogging has been reported in several parts of the city such as Maduravoyal, Porur, Saligaramam, and Valasaravakkam. Trees have been uprooted due to strong winds in many places.

Several trains and flights have been either cancelled or delayed due to the adverse weather conditions.

According to PTI, at least 12 domestic outbound services, including to destinations like Ahmedabad and Thiruvananthapuram were cancelled in Chennai.

Four international services, including to Dubai and Srilanka were also cancelled by a private carrier, the news agency reported, citing unidentified officials. Three arriving international services were diverted to Bengaluru.