Climate at present: Authorities in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry are on excessive alert as Cyclone Fengal approaches the coastal areas, with the landfall anticipated close to Puducherry on Saturday afternoon, November 30. The India Meteorological Division (IMD) has predicted wind speeds of 70-90 kmph, together with heavy to extraordinarily heavy rainfall throughout coastal and inside areas of Tamil Nadu and southern Andhra Pradesh.
Puducherry district administrations have urged residents to remain indoors, and all colleges and faculties in Puducherry are closed for the day. Emergency helplines, together with toll-free numbers 112 and 1077 and a WhatsApp helpline at 9488981070, have been activated for public help.
Cyclone Fengal: Preparations in full swing
In Tamil Nadu, As many as 4,153 fishing boats have been introduced ashore, and a pair of,229 aid camps are able to accommodate evacuees. To this point, 471 individuals from 164 households have been relocated to 6 aid centres in Nagapattinam and Tiruvarur districts. Catastrophe response groups, together with these from the Nationwide and State Catastrophe Response Forces, have been deployed in weak districts, together with Nagapattinam, Mayiladuthurai, Cuddalore, and Chennai.
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District collector A Kulothungan in Puducherry reviewed the preparedness with officers from varied departments, together with public works, native administration, and police. Important tools equivalent to boats, turbines, and motor pumps are on standby.
Heavy rain lash Tamil Nadu
Heavy rain accompanied by gusty winds pounded a number of elements of northern Tamil Nadu on Saturday, affecting normalcy.
What started as intermittent rainfall in coastal areas on the night time of November 29, regularly grew to become regular resulting in water logging in a number of areas and plenty of residents of low-lying Madipakkam parked their automobiles on each side of close by Velachery flyover.
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Residents of comparable weak areas, too, parked their automobiles in protected areas. Roads had been largely abandoned and civic staff, police, and fireplace and rescue personnel had been deployed in all weak locations.
The departure and arrival schedules of flights had been affected to some extent. Chennai Metro Rail mentioned its providers had been operational with none glitches and knowledgeable the general public of parking areas in particular stations that had been susceptible to inundation. State-run transport firms operated skeleton providers in Chennai and close by areas.
As the ocean was tough, police put up barricades blocking entry to famous seashores, together with the Marina and Mamallapuram. The state-run Aavin milk provide was not affected, and the ability provide continued to be regular in most areas.
IMD points purple alert for southern states
In accordance with the IMD, Cyclone Fengal is anticipated to accentuate additional earlier than making landfall. Coastal districts equivalent to Karaikal, Mahabalipuram in Tamil Nadu, and Puducherry will face the strongest impression, with widespread rainfall already reported in some areas.
“There will probably be heavy to extraordinarily heavy rainfall in coastal and low-lying areas throughout landfall, together with wind speeds of 70-90 kmph,” mentioned Dr S Balachandran, director of the regional meteorological centre in Chennai.
A purple alert has additionally been issued for elements of Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, and Karnataka. The IMD has forecast heavy rain for inside Tamil Nadu on November 30 and southern Kerala and Karnataka till December 1.
Warnings for fishermen and coastal residents
The Puducherry Fisheries Division has suggested fishermen to keep away from venturing into the ocean and to safe their boats and tools on increased floor. Comparable warnings have been issued for fishermen in Andhra Pradesh, the place districts like Nellore, Tirupati, and Chittoor are anticipated to obtain extraordinarily heavy rainfall.
Authorities proceed to observe the state of affairs, urging residents in weak areas to stay vigilant and comply with security advisories. Reduction and rescue operations are on standby, prepared to answer any emergencies arising from the cyclone’s landfall.
(With inputs from ANI, PTI)