Strongest downpour in 47 years; Chennai bruised in massive deluge

CHENNAI: Cyclone Michaung formed in the Bay of Bengal have now totally sullied Chennai with torrential rains and floods still continuing across seven districts including Chennai. As many as eight people died in Chennai alone. Lakhs of people including Malayalis are now trapped in their houses with scanty food and water. Electricity has been cut off with many struggling to maintain their phone battery charge. The Chennai airport closed its operation on Monday while many trains connecting the southern metropolitan city got cancelled.

Train services to Kerala were stopped while road traffic came to a standstill. And now, the Indian Army has been called to conduct rescue operations in the city. 12 units from the Army are currently stationed in the place and are conducting relief works.

The cyclone was 90 km away from the Chennai coast last night. The Indian Meteorological Department has predicted that it will make landfall in Andhra Pradesh between Nellore and Machilipatnam this morning. The wind speed is expected to reach 110 kmph.

Monday's rain is assumed to be the strongest the city has ever received in the last 47 years. Floods have hit Chennai, Kanchipuram, Thiruvallur, Chengalpattu, Villupuram, Thiruvannamalai and Ranipet districts. Houses in this region were destroyed completely. A red alert has been declared in seven districts and Puducherry.

Educational institutions and government offices in Chennai, Kanchipuram, Thiruvallur and Chengalpattu districts will remain closed on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Madras University postponed all exams scheduled on Tuesday.

Eight districts of Andhra Pradesh, including NTR and Krishna, have a holiday today. Rain is getting heavy in Puducherry City and the nearby district Karaikal. Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin and learned about the safety measures adopted by the state government. Stalin asked for more NDRF contingent.

The Chennai airport was closed till 11 pm on Monday as the runway got deluged. 70 services were cancelled.33 services have been diverted to Bengaluru. Apart from the 35 trains that were cancelled earlier, six more trains including Vande Bharat to Chennai were cancelled yesterday. Kollam – Chennai Express, West Coast to Mangalore via Malabar, Thiruvananthapuram Mail Super Fast and Chennai-Thiruvananthapuram Express have also been cancelled.

NORKA Help Line Number for Malayalis in Chennai:

9176681818, 9444054222, 9790578608, 9840402784, 944 4467522, 9790857779, 9444186238