LIVE | Cyclone Fengal begins landfall; Chennai airport halts ops till 4 am Sunday

The IMD has predicted light to moderate rainfall or thundershowers at many places over south coastal and Rayalaseema regions while extremely heavy rains are expected at one or two places over SPSR-Nellore, Tirupati and Chittoor districts of Andhra Pradesh.

According to IMD, thunderstorms accompanied by lightning are likely at one or two places over South Coastal and Rayalaseema due to Cyclone Fengal.

Heavy rain is likely to occur at one or two places over the Prakasam, SPSR-Nellore, YSR Kadapa, Annamayya, Tirupati and Chittoor Districts on Sunday, it said Squally winds with speed reaching 50 Kmph may prevail over South Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Rayalaseema.

Many parts of Chennai are inundated and trees have been uprooted. According to Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) authorities, 22,000 personnel, including engineers, officials, and sanitary workers, are on the job, and 1,686 motor pumps of various capacities, including 25-hp and 100-hp, are in use. As many as 484 tractor-mounted heavy-duty pumps and 137 pumps of 100-hp capacity have been deployed.

The GCC said work is underway on a “war footing” to clear waterlogging in 134 spots and, of the nine trees that fell, five have been cleared. Of the 22 subways, traffic flow is smooth in 21. The Ganesapuram subway had already been closed for tasks related to railway bridge work.

Reservoirs that cater to the city’s drinking water needs, such as Chembarmbakkam and Poondi, have received copious inflow.