Cyclone Fengal Live Updates: Heavy Rain in Chennai, Red Alert for Tamil Nadu & Puducherry

Red Alert for Tamil Nadu & Puducherry: Cyclone Fengal, a slow-moving weather system in the Bay of Bengal, is expected to make landfall at the north Tamil Nadu-Puducherry coast between Karaikal and Mahabalipuram near Puducherry today, November 30 in the evening, said the Indian Meteorological Department. Schools and colleges have been closed and fishermen have been asked to stay at home as the cyclone is expected to cross close to Puducherry and Chennai, reported IANS

Puducherry and Tamil Nadu are on high alert

Puducherry has also been placed on high alert, with all schools and colleges in the region closed on Saturday due to the impending cyclone.

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Authorities in the region have taken steps to ensure preparedness, with District Collector A Kulothungan reviewing the situation with officials from local administration, police, and public works departments.

The primary focus is to ensure effective disaster management as the region braces for Cyclone Fengal.

IMD Update - "Cyclonic Storm “FENGAL” over Southwest Bay of Bengal moved west-northwestwards with a speed of 12 kmph during past 6 hours and lay centred at 0530 hours IST of today, the 30th November 2024 over the same region near latitude 12.2°N and longitude 81.2°E, about 150 km east of Puducherry, 140 km southeast of Chennai, 210 km northeast of Nagappattinam and 400 km north of Trincomalee. To move nearly westwards and cross north Tamil Nadu-Puducherry coasts between Karaikal and Mahabalipuram close to Puducherry as a cyclonic storm with a wind speed of 70-80 kmph gusting to 90 kmph during evening of 30th November."

The cyclone has brought high speed winds and heavy rains in Chennai, Tiruvallur, Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram, Villuppuram, Kallakurichi, Cuddalore and Puducherry. The weather body has sounded red alert for November 30 for these areas. The state agencies are on high alert with rough sea, high rainfall, and turbulent conditions, ANI reported.

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As the cyclone advances, heavy rainfall is expected to continue in interior Tamil Nadu, Kerala and interior Karnataka till December 1. Red alerts have been issued for these areas. IMD has asked people to be cautious as the cyclone is likely to cause widespread disruption

Flight disruptions

IndiGo has issued an advisory, warning passengers of delayed or cancelled flights to and from Chennai, Tiruchirappalli, Tuticorin, Madurai and other affected airports in Tamil Nadu. Flights to Tirupati and Visakhapatnam are also affected due to bad weather.

Preparations and precautions

NDRF teams and state disaster management teams have been deployed to affected districts including Nagapattinam, Mayiladuthurai, Tiruvarur, Cuddalore, Thanjavur, Chengalpet and Chennai. Boats, generators and motor pumps have been pre-positioned in vulnerable areas.

Emergency numbers

Department of Revenue and Disaster Management has issued toll-free numbers for distress calls: 112 and 1077 and a WhatsApp helpline 9488981070 for immediate assistance.

Fishing alert: Puducherry fisheries department has asked fishermen not to venture into the sea as the cyclone is approaching. They have been asked to move their boats and equipment to higher ground to avoid damage from rough sea and high winds.

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