Cyclone Fengal: Red Alert Issued For Tamil Nadu, Puducherry; Landfall Likely Today

Weather today-IMD or India Meteorological Department said that the depression over the Southwest Bay of Bengal intensified into a cyclonic storm on Friday afternoon hours before the system made approaches along the north Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coasts. Weather officials further added that 'Fengal' has a possibility of making a landfall at Saturday afternoon near Puducherry, as its wind speed has reached 90 kmph.

Today’s weather

The cyclonic storm will move west-northwest direction with wind speed upto 90 kmph, passing Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coasts between Karaikal and Mamallapuram near Puducherry by Saturday afternoon.

IMD forecast: Areas likely to have heavy to extremely heavy rainfall at several places are districts of Tamil Nadu --Chennai, Chengalpattu, Villuppuram, Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram and Cuddalore, places under Kallakurichi and Puducherry.

An IMD update on Friday at 8.40 p.m. shows ‘Fengal’ was about 230 km east-southeast of Puducherry, 240 km east-northeast of Nagappattinam, and 250 km southeast of Chennai.

On 1st December, interior Tamil Nadu may receive heavy rainfall, and on 2nd and 3rd December, there will be rainfall in the isolated places in the state. Meanwhile, the scheduled visit of President Droupadi Murmu to Tiruvarur Central University is cancelled due to the wake of the cyclone storm.

Flights from and to Chennai numbered as many as 13 and were cancelled on Friday, mentioning bad weather and operational reasons. As reported by TOI, after IMD confirmed the cyclone storm formation, two more Indigo flights were cancelled.

Authorities warned the coastal residents and fishermen for remaining cautious. Puducherry and Tamil Nadu’s coastal districts, specifically around Karaikal and Puducherry, are expected to witness rough seas, and rainfall with strong winds as the system approaches.

Today School Holiday

According to the announcement by the Department of Information and Public Relations, schools and colleges will stay closed on Saturday in Chennai, Kanchipuram, Thiruvallur, and Chengalpattu districts because of the ongoing weather conditions. They further instructed not to hold any special classes or examinations during this period.

2,229 relief centers have been set up in areas under heavy rain warning by the Tamil Nadu Revenue and Disaster Management Department. As of now, 471 individuals from 164 families have been accommodated in Tiruvarur and Nagapattinam districts.

A comprehensive disaster response plan has been activated by the Indian Navy in preparation for the intensification of cyclone ‘Fengal’. State and civil authorities and Naval personnel are working together to ensure quick response capabilities.