Cyclone Fengal nears Puducherry: Heavy rains lash Tamil Nadu, hit flight ops in Chennai

At least 471 people were relocated to relief camps as Cyclone Fengal brought sustained winds of 70–80 km/h and one-meter-high waves, posing flood risks to coastal areas.

Northern Tamil Nadu endured heavy rains and gusty winds on Saturday as Cyclone Fengal approached landfall near Puducherry. Intermittent rain from November 29 intensified overnight, leading to widespread waterlogging, uprooted trees, and disruptions in daily life, including inundation at Chrompet’s government hospital premises.

Chief Minister MK Stalin conducted a review at the State Emergency Operations Centre, assuring the public of comprehensive precautionary measures. Relief camps were established, food distribution initiated, and a pumping station inspected to expedite floodwater removal.

The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) deployed 22,000 personnel and over 1,600 motor pumps, including heavy-duty variants, to tackle waterlogging at 134 locations. While five of nine fallen trees were cleared promptly, traffic flowed smoothly in 21 of 22 subways, with the Ganesapuram subway closed for railway bridge work.

Reservoirs such as Chembarambakkam and Poondi reported significant inflows, prompting residents in low-lying areas like Madipakkam to park vehicles on elevated roads and flyovers. Civic workers, police, and fire rescue teams worked tirelessly on relief and rescue operations.

Public transport services operated at reduced capacity. Suburban EMU trains ran with lower frequency, although express and superfast trains saw only minor delays. Chennai Metro Rail services remained unaffected, with advisories issued for parking at flood-prone stations.

Chennai Airport suspended operations from 12:30 pm to 7 pm, affecting both domestic and international flights. Several flights were canceled, delayed, or diverted, with IndiGo Airlines temporarily halting operations until weather conditions improved.

Roads across the city were largely deserted, and authorities closed access to Marina and Mamallapuram beaches due to rough sea conditions.

The government declared November 30 a holiday for educational institutions and urged IT firms to enable work-from-home arrangements. Milk supply and power services remained largely unaffected despite the adverse weather.

At least 471 people were relocated to relief camps as Cyclone Fengal brought sustained winds of 70–80 km/h and one-meter-high waves, posing flood risks to coastal areas.

(With inputs from agencies)