The city of Chennai bore the brunt of a relentless downpour as Cyclone Michaung loomed closer to the coasts of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. With heavy rain pounding the city through the night, Chennai found itself grappling with severe waterlogging and rain-induced incidents that tragically claimed the lives of seven individuals.
The deluge resulted in widespread waterlogging, particularly near metro stations, causing disruptions in normal commute. At St Thomas metro station, water levels surged up to 4 feet, halting access to the station and prompting advice for passengers to board at alternate stations like Alandur.
Tragic reports emerged as the cyclone unleashed its fury. Two individuals lost their lives, and one sustained injuries when a newly constructed wall collapsed in Kanathur, Chennai, due to the onslaught of heavy rain and gusty winds. These victims hailed from Jharkhand.
Amidst the chaos, reports of five additional fatalities surfaced across the city. An unidentified elderly man's body was discovered near the Vaidyanathan flyover, while another unidentified woman, approximately 60 years old, was found at the Foreshore Estate bus depot. Padmanaban (50) in Dindigul district and Ganesan (70) in Pandiyan Nagar succumbed to electrocution incidents. Additionally, Murugan (35) met a tragic fate in Besant Nagar when a tree collapsed on him.
The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) escalated its warnings as Cyclone Michaung intensified into a severe cyclonic storm, positioned approximately 90 km northeast of Chennai and 140 km southeast of Nellore. The forecast projected its gradual intensification and a predicted course towards the south Andhra Pradesh coast, between Nellore and Machilipatnam, by December 5.
In response to the impending calamity, the Tamil Nadu government declared public holidays for Chennai, Kanchipuram, Tiruvallur, and Chengalpattu districts for two consecutive days, urging private sector employees to work from home. Essential services such as healthcare and milk supply remained operational amidst the enforced shutdown.
The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) deployed 21 teams across Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Puducherry, with an additional eight teams on standby. Meanwhile, Odisha braced itself for the impact, issuing warnings of heavy rainfall in specific districts and canceling leave for field workers in the Agriculture department.
As the region prepared for the cyclone's onslaught, precautionary measures, cancellations of train services, and continuous monitoring were put in place to mitigate the potential damage and safeguard communities across the affected states.
