LIVE | Cyclone Fengal begins landfall; Chennai airport halts ops till 4 am Sunday
Parts of Chennai and other regions of Tamil Nadu waterlogged as Cyclone Fengal brings heavy rain; one dead
Cyclone Fengal started making landfall close to Puducherry around 5.30 pm on Saturday (November 30), and it may take about four hours for it to cross the coast completely, according to an India Meteorological Department (IMD) official.
Early in the day, Puducherry officials asked residents to stay indoors in view of the landfall.
In Tamil Nadu, heavy rains accompanied by gusty winds pounded several northern parts of the state, affecting normalcy. Chennai airport has been closed till 4 am on Sunday.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin reviewed the situation at the State Emergency Operations Centre in Chennai.
All schools and colleges in Puducherry remained closed on Saturday in view of the storm with wind speeds up to 90 kmph.
Also read: Cyclone Fengal: Tamil Nadu, Puducherry brace for very heavy rain
The Tamil Nadu Department of Revenue and Disaster Management has set up toll-free numbers 112 and 1077 to receive distress calls from the public. People can also seek help through the WhatsApp number 9488981070.
Complying with an advisory, 4,153 boats returned to the shore and 2,229 relief camps are ready for use if needed, the state government said early in the day.
Boats, generators, motor pumps and all other necessary machinery and equipment were ready and NDRF and state teams were deployed wherever needed, including Nagapattinam, Mayiladuthurai, Tiruvarur, Cuddalore, Thanjavur, Chengelpet and Chennai.
Senior officials assigned to supervise and coordinate related tasks with district authorities were stationed in their respective districts.
Stayed tuned to this page for all the live updates about Cyclone Fengal
Live Updates
- 30 Nov 2024 11:43 AM IST
Predicted track of Cyclone Fengal
The graphic shows the predicted track of Cyclone 'Fengal'. The cyclone will move westwards and cross north Tamil Nadu-Puducherry coasts between Karaikal and Mahabalipuram, close to Puducherry, on the evening of November 30. PTI
- 30 Nov 2024 10:00 AM IST
Puducherry govt issues heavy rain alert via SMS, shares toll-free numbers
Puducherry experienced heavy rains on Saturday morning prompting the district administration to send SMS alerts to around 12 lakh residents cautioning them to remain vigilant as cyclonic storm Fengal is expected to make landfall near here later in the day.
District Collector A Kulothungan told PTI that all necessary steps have been taken to ensure that people remained safe.
"We have evacuated people from low lying areas and shelter homes were also ready to accommodate them. Arrangements were also made to supply food packets," he said adding that National Disaster Relief Force from Arakonam has arrived to engage in relief and rehabilitation works.
According to the district administration, cyclone Fengal was expected to cross the coast in the evening. Control rooms have been opened in the collectorate and also in the line departments.
Toll-free numbers 112, 1077 and also WhatsApp number 94889 81070 have been put in place to help people facing crisis to contact for help.
Cyclone Fengal is likely to cross between Karaikal and Mahabalipuram coasts close to Puducherry, official sources said. The government has advised people to stay indoors.
The entire stretch of beach road and also several tourist spots were closed to ensure that there was no movement of the people near the sea shore.
Schools and colleges remained closed today. PTI
