Chennai: Chennai International Airport has temporarily suspended operations due to heavy rainfall as Cyclone Fengal approaches the coast. IndiGo Airlines has announced that no flights will be arriving or departing until 1 PM on Saturday. An IndiGo flight from Abu Dhabi, originally scheduled to land at 8:10 AM, was diverted to Bengaluru, while an Air India Express flight to Singapore was canceled for technical reasons. Additionally, SriLankan Airlines canceled its 9:40 AM flight from Chennai to Colombo.
Passengers at Terminal 2 are being accommodated in hotels during this disruption. The city and surrounding areas are experiencing heavy to very heavy rainfall linked to Cyclone Fengal, which is forecasted to make landfall on Saturday evening between Karaikal and Mamallapuram (Mahabalipuram). As of now, the cyclone is located 150 km east of Puducherry, 140 km southeast of Chennai, 210 km northeast of Nagapattinam, and 400 km north of Trincomalee. It is expected to move westward and make landfall near Puducherry as a cyclonic storm, with wind speeds of 70-80 km/h, gusting up to 90 km/h, according to the weather department.
The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) has reported waterlogging in 12 subways across the city. The Tamil Nadu State Disaster Management Authority (TNSDMA) has advised residents to stay away from beaches, amusement parks, and recreational activities. Parks and beaches in Chennai and nearby districts will be closed today. GCC Mayor R. Priya assured citizens that the civic body is fully prepared to deal with the cyclone and the associated heavy rains.
Warnings have been issued against parking or standing vehicles under trees during the storm. The GCC has deployed 28,000 workers for rain relief efforts, with 10 additional workers assigned to each of the 200 wards to handle rain-related complaints, assist with food distribution, and conduct rescue operations. Volunteers are in place to maintain communication with the civic body, and 36 boats are on standby for emergencies.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for Chennai and surrounding districts for November 30, warning of extremely heavy rainfall. The Delta districts of Tamil Nadu, including Mayiladuthurai, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, and Nagapattinam, are also experiencing severe rain. District Collectors have urged the public to avoid entering water bodies for bathing, washing, or swimming, and parents are advised to keep children away from waterlogged areas and protect them from thunderstorms.
Several low-lying areas, such as Sebastian Nagar and Sivasakthi Nagar in Velankanni, as well as Valliammai Nagar and Gomathi Nagar in Nagore, have reported flooding due to the heavy rainfall. A 24-hour control room with a toll-free helpline (04365-1077) has been established to address rain-related emergencies.
Coastal and Marine Precautions: Coastal areas are experiencing rough seas. In Vedaranyam, Nagapattinam, waves are receding, while in Cuddalore, they have risen over 10 feet, significantly higher than the usual two feet. Coastal regions like Thazhanguda, Devanampattinam, Singarathoppu, and Sothikuppam are affected. Fishermen have been advised to remain ashore, and all mechanized and motorized boats are docked. The Cuddalore Port has raised Cyclone Warning Signal Number 3 due to strong winds and heavy rains.
Emergency Preparedness: In Cuddalore district, 270 personnel, including swimmers, have been deployed across 16 fire stations. Rescue teams are equipped with boats, safety gear, ropes, wood-cutting machines, and generator-powered lights for emergencies. The district administration has set up 28 cyclone shelters, 14 multi-purpose safety centers, and 191 temporary relief camps. Teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the Tamil Nadu Disaster Response Force (TNDRF), comprising 30 and 25 personnel respectively, are on standby. All relevant departments, including revenue, rural development, highways, electricity, public works, fire services, and police, have been instructed to take precautionary measures.