A devastating cyclone named Michaung made landfall on the Andhra Pradesh coast near Bapatla, wreaking havoc with intense rainfall and wind speeds reaching up to 100 kmph. The calamity has affected over two crore people and claimed over a dozen lives, leaving thousands of homes and vehicles submerged. In Andhra Pradesh, the cyclone caused extensive damage to standing crops, predominantly paddy, while approximately 10,000 people were evacuated for safety.
Chennai, reeling from the aftermath of Cyclone Michaung, continued to grapple with severe waterlogging conditions. Heavy rainfall persisted, inundating various parts of the city, including a petrol pump in the Pallikaranai area and the Jerusalem College of Engineering. Further exacerbating the situation, the waterfalls in the Kodaikanal Hills, Dindigul district, overflowed due to the relentless rainfall in the region.
Here are the top 10 updates on the situation:
1. **Schools and Colleges Closed:** The Tamil Nadu government announced the closure of schools and colleges in Chennai district on December 8 as relief efforts intensified in rain-affected areas.
2. **Relief Efforts Underway:** Tamil Nadu's Chief Secretary, Shiv Das Meena, reported that 9,000 officials from other districts were deployed for relief work in Chennai. Remedial actions include managing water stagnation in 343 areas and distributing food packets in flood-affected zones.
3. **IMD Forecast:** The India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicts isolated heavy rainfall in Kerala and Tamil Nadu on December 8th and 9th, with thunderstorms likely in specific areas till December 9th.
4. **Chandrababu Naidu's Visit:** Nara Chandrababu Naidu, TDP Chief, is scheduled to tour the cyclone-affected regions in Guntur and Prakasam districts, inspecting the devastation in Vemuru, Tenali, Bapatla, Parchur, and Prattipadu constituencies.
5. **Usilampatti Shut Down:** In support of acquiring water through a 58-canal in Usilampatti, shopkeepers in Madurai district kept their shops closed on December 7.
6. **Parliamentary Motion:** Congress MP Manickam Tagore tabled an adjournment motion in Lok Sabha, urging a discussion on Chennai and Tamil Nadu's current conditions and requesting financial aid for relief efforts.
7. **Central Support:** Rajnath Singh announced that PM Modi directed the advance release of Central shares for SDRF, allocating ₹493.60 crore to Andhra Pradesh and ₹450 crore to Tamil Nadu.
8. **Automaker Assistance:** Toyota Kirloskar Motor initiated measures through its dealers to aid customers affected by the cyclone in Chennai and Andhra Pradesh.
9. **IAS Officers' Contribution:** The Tamil Nadu IAS Officers' Association contributed a day's salary of its members to the Chief Minister's Public Relief Fund to support ongoing relief operations.
10. **Continuing Challenges:** Despite a significant duration since rainfall ceased, parts of Chennai remain flooded and without power, posing ongoing challenges.
With inputs from ANI and PTI, the aftermath of Cyclone Michaung continues to prompt extensive relief efforts and governmental support in affected regions.
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This article covers the top updates concerning the aftermath of Cyclone Michaung in Andhra Pradesh and Chennai, focusing on relief measures, forecasts, visits by political figures, and ongoing challenges faced by the affected regions.
