Cyclone 'Michaung': 8 Dead, Houses Inundated, Roads Closed as Heavy Rains Lash Chennai

In the wake of Severe Cyclonic Storm 'Michaung', at least eight people have lost their lives while multiple roads and subways are shut down due to excessive waterlogging.

'Michung' is expected to make landfall on the southern coast of Andhra Pradesh between Nellore and Machilipatnam today.

"Traffic has been closed on Manjambakkam to Vadaperumbakkam Road due to the release of water from the Puzhal Lake," police said on Tuesday.

"A dead body of an unidentified man aged about 70 years who was found dead at the platform near the Vaidyanathan flyover, Padmanaban (M/50), Senthurai, Natluun, Dindigul district was electrocuted and died at loan square road, Murugan (M/35), died by fallen tree on himself at Besant Nagar, a dead body of an unidentified woman aged about 60 years was found dead at Foreshore Estate Bus Depot, Ganesan (M/70 years) of Thuraipakkam was electrocuted while walking on the road near his house," Tamil Nadu police said.

"Dharath (M/53 years) died due to a compound wall collapse at Ellaiamman Boyd Street, Sehlim (M/50), was found dead in the rainwater inside the School campus, Mirajul Islam (M/19) of Assam State, who stayed at Kotturpuram Corporation School relief Centre died due to epilepsy today," the police added.

The police also mentioned that numerous households, including pregnant woman, kids, and elderly individuals, were rescued from various locations where they were trapped because of the destructive impact of Cyclone Michaung.

Around 17 subways including the Ganesapuram Subway, Gengureddy Subway, Sembium (Perambur), Villivakkam and Duraisamy Subway are closed due to water logging, the police informed further.

"Fallen trees have been removed at 58 places in the GCP limit," police said.

On Tuesday morning, Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin inspected the Cyclone affected areas in the state. The Tamil Nadu CM inspected the rain relief camp set up in Kannapar Thital, Chennai. There are 162 relief centres in which 43 are operated accommodating 2477 Chennai residents. There are 20 kitchens operational providing food to these relief centres.

The state government has inquired with the authorities regarding the accessibility and quality of pre-packaged food items such as rice, lentils, and vegetables. This is to ensure that adequate food is provided to those residing in the relief camps.

Earlier CM Stalin said "We have reduced/prevented loss of life to a great extent due to systematic improvements and comprehensive structural preparations. Rescue and relief work is going on at a wartime pace."

5000 workers from different districts have been relocated to Chennai to carry out the mitigation works. The Chief Secretary of Tamil Nadu and other high-ranking officials are overseeing the operations at the Integrated Command & Control Center. The Chennai corporation is primarily focused on prioritizing rescue efforts, providing food to those who have been relocated to relief centers, and clearing the roads.

The bridge in the Nerkundram vicinity is encircled by the overflowing water from the Koovam River. As a result of the water discharge from the Chembarambakkam Lake, Madha engineering college near Chembarambakkam was partially submerged. The water rose to almost neck level, making it difficult for people to walk.

In wake of the cyclone, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) said "Severe Cyclonic Storm "MICHAUNG" over Westcentral Bay of Bengal off south Andhra Pradesh and adjoining north Tamil Nadu coasts moved northwards with a speed of 07 kmph during past 6 hours and lay centred at 0530 hours IST of today, the 5th December 2023 over Westcentral Bay of Bengal off south Andhra Pradesh coast near Latitude14.9°N and Longitude 80.2°E, about 20 km east of Kavali, 50 km north-northeast of Nellore, 200 km north of Chennai, 110 km south-southwest of Bapatla and 170km south-southwest of Machilipatnam."

It further said that Cyclone 'Michaung' is likely to cross south Andhra Pradesh during the forenoon of December 5 with a maximum wind speed of 90-100 Kmph.

"As the system is nearly moving northwards close to the coast, some parts of the wall cloud region lie overland. The system is likely to move nearly northwards parallel and close to the south Andhra Pradesh coast and cross the south Andhra Pradesh coast between Nellore and Machilipatnam, close to Bapatla during the forenoon of 5th December as a Severe Cyclonic Storm with a maximum sustained wind speed of 90-100 kmph gusting to 110 kmph," the IMD added.

Furthermore, the heavy rainfall in Chennai had a significant impact on public life. Various parts of the city, such as Wallajah Road, Mount Road, Anna Salai, Chepauk, the vicinity of Omandurar government multispecialty hospital, and other low-lying areas, experienced flooding due to continuous heavy rains.

Also Read: Assam: 3 Killed, 1 Injured In Separate Road Mishaps In Goalpara