Three people were electrocuted in separate rain-related incidents in Chennai as Cyclone Fengal (pronounced as 'Feinjal') made landfall along the Tamil Nadu-Puducherry coast on Saturday evening, triggering heavy rainfall and flooding several parts of the city. However, no immediate reports of major damage were reported in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.
The Chennai airport, which was shut for 16 hours due to the cyclone, reopened at 4 am on Sunday, but flight operations remained affected as the situation was slowly coming back to normal.
Since Saturday, incessant rain had been pounding Chennai, its nearby districts and Puducherry as the cyclone made landfall, impacting public transport, including bus, train and flight services, and people living in vulnerable areas were shifted to safe shelters by authorities.
The cyclone remained stationary over north Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coasts and was expected to weaken into a deep depression, according to the IMD.
Cyclone Fengal remained practically stationary during the past one hour and gradually weaken into a deep depression during the next three hours, the IMD said.
Fengal will slowly move west-southwest, and the system is being continuously monitored by the Doppler weather radar at Chennai and Karaikal. Chennai (Meenambakkam and Nungambakkam weather stations) received 11.4 cm of rainfall, while Puducherry was dumped with 39 cm of rainfall. Cuddalore got 8.3 cm of rainfall, according to the weather office.
The Chennai airport was shut on Saturday following the inundation of two runways and a taxiway after heavy rainfall pummelled Chennai due to the cyclone's influence. Visuals from the airport showed people queuing in large numbers at the entry gates.
Official sources told news agency PTI that apart from the cancellation of 55 flights, 19 others were diverted. The services include both domestic and international flights. Earlier when the airport was operational, at least 12 flights were delayed.
Hospitals and houses were inundated in Chennai and its neighbourhoods while people used flyovers and spaces beneath them as parking lots. On the other hand, three people were electrocuted in different rain-related incidents in the city. The Greater Chennai Corporation distributed food to around 2.32 lakh people. In eight relief camps, nearly 200 people from low-lying areas were housed.
Tamil Nadu Minister KKSSR Ramachandran said there were no immediate reports of major damage in the aftermath of the cyclone and added that related details could be known possibly by Sunday. He also indicated the cyclone did not leave the kind of impact anticipated by the authorities.
Chief Minister MK Stalin and his deputy Udhayanidhi Stalin reviewed the action plan being implemented and they made spot inspections. MK Stalin held a virtual meet with district collectors and top civic officials of northern districts to assess the ground situation and spoke to inmates of a relief camp in Chengelpet district.
Udhayanidhi Stalin also said that work was on to clear the water stagnation in six subways, which were temporarily closed due to torrential rainfall triggered by the cyclone. He also said that 1,700 motor pumps were being used to clear waterlogging on a war footing in about 334 locations.
Milk supply and services of sanitary workers continued in Chennai despite incessant rain. Electricity supply, disconnected in most areas due to the strong winds, was gradually restored and 18 disaster relief teams were stationed in vulnerable areas.
In neighbouring Puducherry, there were no immediate reports of any major damage, officials said. Earlier, the Union Territory's administration had sent SMS to 12 lakh residents, cautioning them to remain vigilant ahead of Fengal's landfall.
Source: ANI