Cyclone Michaung is expected to make landfall on the Andhra Pradesh coast between Nellore and Machilipatnam on Tuesday. As of Tuesday morning, the weather system located over the West Central Bay of Bengal, off the south Andhra Pradesh coast, and adjoining north Tamil Nadu coasts has moved a north-northwestward movement at a speed of 10 kmph over the past six hours.

Its current center is positioned 35 km east-northeast of Kavali, 70 km north-northeast of Nellore, 90 km south-southwest of Bapatla, 150 km south-southwest of Machilipatnam, and 230 km north of Chennai, The Indian Express reported.

The intense rain under the influence of the cyclonic storm has already killed eight people in Chennai, submerging portions of the city. Response teams have been actively deployed across Chennai to extend aid and facilitate rescue operations.

Also Read: Cyclone Michaung Live Updates: Cyclone likely to make landfall near Andhra Pradesh’s Nellore and Machilipatnam around noon

Here are the latest developments about Cyclone Michaung

  • Cyclonic storm Michaung is anticipated to make landfall near Bapatla in Andhra Pradesh on December 5 at noon, marking the first such occurrence in two years since Cyclone Gulab in September 2021.

  • The latest bulletin from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) stated that light to moderate rainfall across coastal Andhra Pradesh is expected. Heavy to very heavy rainfall, with extremely heavy falls at isolated places, is forecast over coastal Andhra Pradesh and Yanam on Tuesday. North coastal and adjoining south coastal Andhra Pradesh may experience exceptionally heavy rainfall at one or two locations on December 5.
  • An orange alert has been issued for Andhra Pradesh and the adjacent north Tamil Nadu-Puducherry coasts as Cyclone Michaung approaches. High alert status has been declared for eight districts—Tirupati, Nellore, Prakasam, Bapatla, Krishna, West Godavari, Konaseema, and Kakinada. Adequate funds have been allocated to safeguard these districts, with a primary focus on preventing crop loss.
  • Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin has assured that his government is actively implementing necessary measures on a war footing to provide relief in the aftermath of Cyclone Michaung.
  • The Tamil Nadu government has declared a public holiday in Chennai, Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram, and Tiruvallur on Monday and Tuesday. Furthermore, all primary, upper primary, high school and anganwadi centers will remain closed on December 6, as announced by the Office of the Collector and District Magistrate, Gajapati.
  • A total of 236 relief camps have been set up across eight locations in the state, providing 9,634 individuals with essential supplies such as food and water.
  • Subways in Chennai have been closed due to severe waterlogging. Additionally, traffic has been halted from Manjambakkam to Vadaperumbakkam Road due to water release from Puzhal Lake.
  • Due to incessant rains, the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) has temporarily prohibited devotees from bathing in the Sri Kapilathirtham waterfalls.
  • Transport services have been severely affected, with numerous trains and flights getting cancelled. On Monday, 33 flights from Chennai were diverted to Kempegowda International Airport (KIA). Officials from Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) said that both domestic and international flights, including those of Indigo, SpiceJet, Etihad, Lufthansa, and Gulf Air, were redirected from Chennai to KIA.
  • Chennai airport experienced closure for arrival and departure operations until 11 pm on Monday due to severe weather conditions. A total of 70 flights arriving at and departing from the airport were cancelled due to non-stop rains.

(With inputs from ANI and PTI)