Michong Cyclone: Red Alert in Tamil Nadu-Andhra Pradesh, Chennai Airport Flooded, Flights Cancelled; Two Fatalities in Wall Collapse
Cyclone Mishong is expected to make landfall on the coastal areas of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu on Monday. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for heavy rainfall in Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Andhra Pradesh.
Due to continuous overnight rainfall, Chennai airport experienced waterlogging, leading to the suspension of runway operations from Monday night at 11 pm. Consequently, flights have been canceled or diverted from here. In the Kanathur area of Chennai, a wall collapsed due to the cyclone, resulting in two fatalities and one person being seriously injured. The deceased were residents of Jharkhand. Additionally, the Tamil Nadu government has declared a statewide holiday, except for essential services, on Monday.
The impact of the cyclone has raised the sea level by about 5 feet along the Mahabalipuram coast in Tamil Nadu. The state government has declared a holiday in the entire state on Monday, except for essential services. The IMD has issued heavy rainfall warnings in Chennai, Chengalpattu, Tiruvallur, and Kanchipuram.
In the NTR district of Andhra Pradesh, schools and colleges, along with all educational institutions, will remain closed from December 4 to 5. To assist in rescue operations, 21 teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been deployed across both states. Cyclone Mishong is expected to intensify into a severe cyclonic storm and make its fourth landfall in the Bay of Bengal and sixth in the Indian Ocean in 2023.
Windspeed May Reach 100 km/h Every Hour in the Next 100 km
Cyclone Mishong, currently over the Bay of Bengal, is projected to collide with the coastal areas of Nellore and Machilipatnam in Andhra Pradesh. During this time, wind speeds may range from 90-100 km/h, possibly reaching up to 110 km/h every hour. As of now, Cyclone Mishong is located off the coast of South-West Bengal, moving towards North-West. It is expected to reach the West-Midnapore district by Monday afternoon, potentially impacting the coastal areas of South Andhra Pradesh and North Tamil Nadu.
Orange Alert in 5 Odisha Districts Due to Impending Cyclone
Due to the approaching cyclone, Odisha has issued a severe warning of heavy rainfall from December 6. The Meteorological Department has declared an orange alert for Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Gajapati, and Ganjam districts. During this period, these districts are expected to experience significant rainfall. The IMD has indicated that these districts may witness wind speeds of 35-45 kmph on December 4, with the possibility of increasing to 60 kmph within the next 12 hours.
144 Trains Cancelled Due to Cyclone Mishong
In response to Cyclone Mishong, 144 trains running from December 3 to 7 will be canceled in the Southern Railways network. Cancelled trains include Vijayawada Janashatabdi (Train numbers 12077 and 12078), Nizamuddin Chennai Duronto (Train numbers 12269 and 12270), Gayathri Express (Train numbers 12389 and 12390), and Barauni-Kakinada Port Special (Train numbers 12077 and 3333).
Deep Fog Expected to Blanket Northern India
Many cities in Northern India, including Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh, are anticipated to experience thick fog in the coming days. On Sunday, areas like Pahalgam and Gulmarg in Kashmir recorded sub-zero temperatures. Conversely, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Andhra Pradesh witnessed heavy rainfall in various regions.
