CHENNAI: Chennai and several other parts of Tamil Nadu witnessed heavy rainfall and strong winds amid cyclonic storm Mandous, which, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), had crossed the Mamallapuram coast and is weakening in strength after completing its landfall process late on Friday night.
Several areas in Chennai saw waterlogging and squally winds uprooting trees and also in the nearby Chengalpattu district. The rainfall triggered by the cyclone has caused severe waterlogging in low-lying areas. Roads in the MMDA Colony in Chennai’s Arumbakkam were seen waterlogged. A video showed a large tree uprooted in Egmore, causing several damage to a petrol bunk nearby.
Cyclone Mandous made landfall off Mamallapuram on Friday evening, influencing moderate to heavy rainfall in coastal Tamil Nadu. Mandous is all set to weaken to a deep depression and later a depression on Saturday.
S Balachandran, DDGM, RMC Chennai, said “Cyclone Mandous crossed the coast and is in deep depression and its strength is weakening. It is moving towards the Northwest direction so areas in northwest districts will witness strong winds of 55-65 kmph which will further decrease by evening to 30-40 kmph.”
Earlier on Saturday, the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) requested people to avoid going out until Cyclone Mandous weakens. It is said that almost 65 trees fell in three hours and motor pumps are being used to remove water stagnation in low-lying areas.
The National Disaster Response Force personnel are on standby. The Tamil Nadu government put out a list of helpline numbers in case of any flood-related emergencies. The Greater Chennai Traffic Police on Saturday, in a tweet, announced that vehicular movement along the East Coast Road (ECR) resumed at 6 am. The stretch had been closed since 10 pm last night, due to the cyclone.
Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Friday said that all the precautionary measures have been taken. “The government has taken all the precautionary measures and the officers are regularly monitoring the situation,” said Stalin.
Stalin visited and inspected the state emergency operation centre at Chepauk amid the cyclone’s severity. He said that the monitoring of the cyclone has also been deployed district-wise. “Whatever the situation may be, the government will ensure the protection of the people. District-wise monitoring of the cyclone has also been deployed”, he said.
Stalin urged the people to follow the orders of the government and cooperate with the government. Meanwhile, Dindigul Collector has declared a holiday for schools and colleges in Sirumalai and Kodaikanal for Saturday. Heavy rains with strong winds were experienced in Puducherry on Friday. Red alerts were sounded in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Andhra Pradesh. Doppler Weather Radar Karaikal and Chennai are monitoring the cyclone. (ANI)