Cyclone Fengal: Landfall expected tonight; flight ops disrupted at Chennai Airport

Heavy rains lashed Tamil Nadu and Puducherry on Saturday as cyclone Fengal is expected to cross the Tamil Nadu coast later this evening. The downpour affected flight services at Chennai International Airport and operations of suburban trains in the Tamil Nadu capital.

According to the meteorological department, Cyclone Fengal is likely to cross between Karaikal and Mahabalipuram coasts, close to Puducherry tonight. In a recent alert, the weather department said, “The cyclonic storm ‘Fengal’ over Southwest Bay of Bengal moved west-northwestwards with a speed of 13kmph during past six hours and lay centred at 0830 hours IST of today, the 30th November 2024, over the same region near latitude 12.3°N and longitude 80.9°E, about 120 km east-northeast of Puducherry, 110 km southeast of Chennai, 200 km north-northeast of Nagappattinam and 420 km north of Trincomalee.”

Experts forecast that the cyclone will move further westwards and cross the Tamil Nadu coast in the evening. “It is likely 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 70-80kmph gusting to 90kmph during evening of 30th November,” the meteorological department said in a post on X.

The weather department advised fishermen not to venture into the sea and the storm surge could likely inundate low-lying areas in coastal districts of Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and south Andhra Pradesh at the time of landfall.

Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin reviewed the relief measures on Saturday and said heavy rains are expected for the next couple of days. “The weather department has warned that there will be continuous rain for the next two-three days. The Tamil Nadu government is constantly monitoring and taking precautionary measures,” the chief minister told reporters in Chennai. Stalin added no casualties have been reported and relief measures are progressing. He said people in low-lying areas have been moved to camps. 

Weather affected flight operations in Chennai Airport and authorities declared suspension of all operations till 7pm on Saturday.

According to reports, while some of the flights were diverted to Bengaluru and Tiruchirappalli, at least 18 flights were cancelled and 12 other flights were delayed. IndiGo Airlines has temporarily suspended flight operations, which will resume once the weather improves, PTI reported.

The Puducherry government has issued heavy rain alert to residents and advised them to stay indoors. The district administration has set up control rooms and toll-free numbers 112, 1077 and also WhatsApp number 94889 81070 have been provided for the public. A National Disaster Relief Force team has also been stationed to provide immediate assistance.