Cyclone Mandous made landfall off the Mahabalipuram coast near Chennai, around 10.30pm on Friday, causing heavy rainfall and gusty winds in the coastal areas. The cyclonic storm, which crossed the coast between Puducherry and Sriharikota with a wind speed of 75 kmph, weakened into a deep depression early Saturday morning. It is expected to weaken further by this afternoon.
Twelve cyclones have crossed the coast near Mahabalipuram in the past 130 years from 1891 to 2021. Cyclone Mandous is the 13th to cross through this region. The Greater Chennai Corporation had urged people to not venture out till the storm weakens. Over 65 trees were uprooted, and waterlogging was reported from several low-lying areas. Electricity supply was also disrupted in some areas. The GCC has set up 805 motors to pump water out in low-lying areas and 169 camps have been set up across the city, News Minute stated in a report. The corporation had also closed all parks and playgrounds in Chennai citing heavy rainfall and strong winds.
Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) requests all to avoid going out until cyclonic storm 'Mandous' weakens. Almost 65 trees have fallen down in 3 hrs & GCC is taking measures to remove them. Motor pumps are being used to remove water stagnation in low lying saucer shaped areas: GCC pic.twitter.com/va9udmqVDK
— ANI (@ANI) December 9, 2022
A holiday has been declared on Saturday for schools and colleges in Chennai, and other districts including Vellore, Villupuram, Cuddalore, Ranipet, Tiruvallur, Chengalpattu, and Kancheepuram due to rain forecast.
Operations at the Chennai airport were also affected and several flights have been cancelled in the wake of the cyclone.
As many as 16,000 police personnel and 1,500 home guards have been deployed in the state for security, relief and rescue tasks. A 40-member team of TN State Disaster Response Force, in addition to 12 District Disaster Response Force teams, were also on standby.
The IMD said that rainfall is likely to reduce to light to moderate rains at most places with heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places over north interior Tamil Nadu and Rayalaseema and adjoining south Andhra Pradesh.
Mandous, pronounced 'man-dous' is an Arabic word meaning treasure box and the name was picked by the United Arab Emirates as per protocol.
-with agency inputs
