Cyclonic storm Michong has started showing its effects.
Heavy rains are occurring in many parts of Tamil Nadu. The storm has caused huge devastation especially in Chennai, Kanchipuram, Tiruvallur and Chengalpattu districts.
Normal life has come to a complete standstill in the state. Chief Minister MK Stalin said his government was taking all necessary steps on war footing to provide assistance in the wake of the storm.
Relief work has been started immediately in the rain affected areas. A large number of personnel from various departments including police, fire and rescue have been deployed as a precautionary mechanism.
Due to rain, people have to run for drinking water and other essential commodities. Due to torrential rains coupled with strong winds, electricity was lost in many areas of the city.
Internet service has also been disrupted. Transport services have been badly affected with many trains and flights being canceled due to bad weather.
Many parts of Chennai and adjoining areas of Kanchipuram, Chengalpet and Tiruvallur were flooded. Government employees have been deployed to remove standing water on the roads.
Apart from Tamil Nadu, the effects of the cyclonic storm have started becoming visible in other states also. It is feared that apart from Chennai, it may wreak havoc in other cities also.
Light to moderate rain in most areas of Andhra Pradesh
In the latest bulletin of India Meteorological Department (IMD), it was said that there will be light to moderate rainfall at most places in coastal Andhra Pradesh.
Extremely heavy rainfall at isolated places with heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places is expected over Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Yanam on Tuesday.
Additionally, exceptionally heavy rainfall is likely at one or two places over North Coastal and adjoining South Coastal Andhra Pradesh on December 5.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy held a review meeting on the cyclone with senior officials on Monday. During this time he has promised financial assistance, in which Rs 2 crore has been allocated for Tirupati district and Rs 1 crore has been allocated to some districts (Nellore, Prakasam, Bapatla, Krishna, West Godavari, Konaseema and Kakinada).
How will the storm affect Jharkhand and Odisha?
According to the Meteorological Department official, there is a possibility of light to moderate rain in some areas of Jharkhand till December 7.
Ranchi Meteorological Center has predicted light rain in specific areas on Tuesday. After this, there may be light to moderate rain on 6th and 7th December. At the same time, rescue teams have also been deployed in the southern districts of Odisha.
However, it is not likely to have any significant impact on Odisha. IMD Director General Mrityunjay Mohapatra said that there may be light to moderate rain in the state. There is also a possibility of increase in the intensity of rain, due to which there may be heavy rain in many areas on Tuesday.
Know in which direction Cyclone Michong is moving now
According to the bulletin, Severe Cyclonic Storm Michong over west-central Bay of Bengal off South Andhra Pradesh and adjoining North Tamil Nadu coasts has moved north-northwestwards with a speed of 7 kmph in the last 6 hours.
It was centered 20 km north-northeast of Nellore, 170 km north of Chennai, 150 km south of Bapatla and 210 km south-southwest of Machilipatnam at 2:30 am IST on Monday.
The storm is likely to move almost parallel to the north and close to the south Andhra Pradesh coast and cross the south Andhra Pradesh coast near Bapatla between Nellore and Machilipatnam as a severe cyclonic storm on Tuesday morning, the IMD said. During this period, winds are expected to blow at a speed of 90-100 kilometers per hour.