Severe Cyclonic Storm ‘Michaung’ Claims Eight Lives in Tamil Nadu; Chennai Battling Waterlogging

In the aftermath of the Severe Cyclonic Storm ‘Michaung,’ at least eight lives have been lost, and numerous areas in Tamil Nadu, particularly Chennai, are grappling with severe waterlogging and infrastructure damage. The cyclone is anticipated to make landfall on the southern coast of Andhra Pradesh between Nellore and Machilipatnam today, leading to widespread disruptions and evacuations.

Tamil Nadu Police reported that multiple roads and subways have been closed due to waterlogging, with traffic halted on the Manjambakkam to Vadaperumbakkam Road due to the release of water from the Puzhal Lake. The tragic loss of lives includes incidents of electrocution, tree falls, a compound wall collapse, and other cyclone-related accidents.

The deceased were identified as an unidentified elderly man found dead near the Vaidyanathan flyover, Padmanaban (M/50) in Dindigul district, Murugan (M/35) in Besant Nagar, an unidentified woman at Foreshore Estate Bus Depot, Ganesan (M/70) in Thuraipakkam, Dharath (M/53) due to a compound wall collapse, Sehlim (M/50) found dead in the rainwater inside a school campus, and Mirajul Islam (M/19) from Assam State, who stayed at Kotturpuram Corporation School relief Centre and succumbed to epilepsy.

Rescue operations have been in full swing, with many families, including pregnant women, children, and senior citizens, being rescued from different areas severely affected by Cyclone Michaung. Authorities have closed around 17 subways, including the Ganesapuram Subway, Gengureddy Subway, Sembium (Perambur), Villivakkam, and Duraisamy Subway, due to waterlogging.

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has provided updates on the cyclone’s movement, indicating that Cyclone ‘Michaung’ is likely to cross south Andhra Pradesh during the forenoon of December 5 with a maximum wind speed of 90-100 Kmph. The Chennai Airfield remains closed for arrival and departure operations until 0900 hrs IST tomorrow due to adverse weather conditions.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin conducted an inspection of the cyclone-affected areas in the state on Tuesday morning. He visited rain relief camps set up in Kannapar Thital, Chennai, where 162 relief centers are operational, accommodating 2,477 residents. The state government has mobilized 5,000 workers from other districts to Chennai for mitigation efforts, with Chief Secretary and top officials monitoring operations at the Integrated Command & Control Center.

Despite the challenges posed by Cyclone ‘Michaung,’ CM Stalin emphasized that systematic improvements and comprehensive structural preparations have significantly reduced/prevented the loss of life. Rescue and relief operations are ongoing at a rapid pace.

Public life in Chennai has been severely impacted as heavy rains persistently lash several parts of the city. Wallajah Road, Mount Road, Anna Salai, Chepauk, and other low-lying areas are inundated, causing disruptions to daily activities. The state government is coordinating efforts to provide food and shelter to those affected in relief camps and is closely monitoring the situation as the cyclone progresses.

*Stay tuned for further updates on the impact of Cyclone ‘Michaung’ in Tamil Nadu.*