Cyclone Michaung updates | Michaung weakens into a Cyclonic Storm after landfall

Homes covered with tin roof sheets and asbestos and overhead tanks were seen flying in the air, as one drove down the deserted roads passing through the coastal villages such as Suryalanka in the Bapatla district where the severe cyclonic storm Michaung made its landfall on December 6 afternoon.

High-velocity winds continued till late in the night in most parts of Bapatla district forcing people to remain indoors.

As there was no power, almost the entire district was plunged into darkness, and communication was cut off to Bapatla district as there was no mobile phone network due to the calamity.

Almost all the roads in Chebrolu, Ponnur, Gopapuram and other places were deserted before and after the cyclone hit the coast near Bapatla.

Police arranged pickets as a precautionary measure. Many fishermen families were shifted to the relief camps and cyclone shelters.

The Congress’ Telangana unit chief A Revanth Reddy, who is set to take over as chief minister on December 7, said that officials should be alert in view of the IMD’s warnings on the impact of Cyclone Michaung on various districts of the State.

In a post on X, Mr. Reddy said officials should take measures to see that paddy crop is not damaged and people living in low-lying areas do not face trouble.

“Officials should be alert in view of the IMD’s warnings on the impact of the cyclone on various districts in Telangana. Precautions should be taken to see that paddy is not damaged,” he said in the post.

“[The officials] should see that daily life is not troubled in agency and low-lying areas. [They should] be ready to take up the necessary relief measures,” he added.

- PTI

​

Cyclone Michaung wreaked large-scale devastation in Bapatla and Guntur districts on Tuesday, as it made landfall near the Bapatla coast on Tuesday.

Standing crops in a large swathe of land were inundated, while electricity supply was disrupted in many areas. Roads were waterlogged in several places, bringing transport to a halt.

Click below to read more: 

Cyclone Michaung leaves a trail of destruction in its wake in Bapatla, Guntur districts

Cyclone Michaung wreaked havoc in Guntur and Bapatla, flooding crops, roads, and homes. District admin. relocated people to shelters, while officials worked to restore normalcy. Minister Merugu Nagarjuna distributed groceries to affected families. TDP MLA Yeluri Sambasiva Rao urged govt. to enumerate losses and compensate farmers.

The decade from 2011-2020 was the warmest ever in history. While there has been a rise in economic losses from extreme weather and climate losses, this was the decade with the lowest number of deaths from extreme events, said a report from the World Meteorological Organisation.

The report underlined that human caused climate change significantly increased the risks from extreme heat events. Heatwaves were responsible for the highest number of human casualties, while tropical cyclones caused the most economic damage.

Read more here...

State-run NLC India on Tuesday said that it has sent high-capacity pumps used in lignite mines to pump out water from inundated areas in Chennai.

“To supplement the efforts of Chennai Corporation, yesterday NLC India Ltd has come forward to lend a helping hand by sending 16 numbers of giant high capacity pumps which are used in NLC lignite Mines,” the PSU said in a statement.

Required engineers along with technicians from all three mines of the PSU have left for Chennai with high-capacity giant motor pumps to help drain the water at the earliest in the waterlogged areas.

- PTI

Chief Secretary Shiv Das Meena said additional workforce is being sourced from neighbouring districts to undertake relief operations in Chennai and three neighbouring districts on war footing.

While over 3,000 workers are involved in clearing up debris and removing trees, another 2,000 workers were expected to join the mission by Tuesday evening.

Read more here...

The death toll due to torrential rains and rain-related incidents in Chennai and three neighbouring districts rose to seven. Meanwhile, over 61,600 people were moved to relief camps in nine districts, Chief Minister M.K. Stalin said. 

Chief Secretary Shiv Das Meena said additional workforce was being sourced from neighbouring districts to undertake relief operations in Chennai and three neighbouring districts on war footing. 

Chennai airport resumed flight operations on Tuesday morning, but cancellations continued. Though the terminals were opened by 9 a.m., operations began only by 11 a.m. 

Officials of Airports Authority of India (AAI) said 136 domestic and international flights were cancelled on Tuesday, and they would operate around 260 flights. 

Read more here...

While many residents in the rain affected parts of the city were grappling with poor mobile network connectivity and power cuts, the State government has said that their main focus is to bring back normalcy and that 80% of power supply and 70% of mobile networks have already been restored.

Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary Shiv Das Meena told reporters in Chennai that there were 42,747 cell phone towers in the city of which 70% were currently operational. The rest of the 30% was not operational due to lack of power, he said.

- PTI

A total of 29 NDRF teams have been deployed in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Puducherry to undertake relief and rescue operations in the wake of the severe cyclonic storm Michaung, a senior officer said.

Fourteen National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams have been deployed in Tamil Nadu (five in Chennai), 11 in Andhra Pradesh, one in Telangana and three in Puducherry.

“Our focus is on Andhra Pradesh as the cyclone will make landfall there and a number of trees, poles and other infrastructure could be uprooted, leading to blockage of communication and power lines,” the officer said.

- PTI

Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan was rescued by Tamil Nadu Fire and Rescue Services in a boat in Karapakkam, a day after the cyclonic depression Michaung devastated Chennai and the Tamil Nadu government deployed disaster management personnel to rescue people from flood-hit areas.

Notably, Aamir has been residing in Chennai since October. The actor reportedly relocated base to be with his ailing mother, Zeenat Hussain, who is undergoing treatment in a private medical facility in the city.

Click below to read more:

Cyclone Michaung | Aamir Khan rescued from flood; pics with Vishnu Vishal and Jwala Gutta go viral

Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan, along with Tamil actor Vishnu Vishal and national badminton player Jwala Gutta, was rescued from their flood-hit residence in Karapakkam, Chennai, on Tuesday, a day after cyclone Michaung devastated the city with severe rainfall

The ‘Severe Cyclonic Storm’ Michaung over Westcentral Bay of Bengal crossed South Andhra Pradesh coast, close to south of Bapatla, during two hours from 12.30 p.m. to 2.30 p.m. on December 5 (Tuesday) with a maximum sustained speed of 90-100 kmph.

The storm moved northwards with a speed of 11 kmph during the last six hours, said a bulletin from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) at 4.30 p.m. 

The system is likely to move northwards and weaken into a cyclonic storm during the next two hours. 

​Read more here...​

All flights of IndiGo from Vizag to various destinations were cancelled on December 5 due to cyclone Michaung. IndiGo operates around 20 flights, a day, from Vizag to Hyderabad, Tirupati, Chennai, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Vijayawada and a few other destinations.

The Telangana government on Tuesday directed the Collectors of districts where heavy rain is forecast due to severe cyclonic storm Michaung to be on alert and send a team of NDRF each to two districts.

State Disaster Management department Secretary Rahul Bojja held a tele-conference with the Collectors of the districts which are expected to receive heavy rain.

He asked them to be alert in view of the forecast of heavy rains on December 5 and 6 and to take measures as per the stipulated protocols, an official release said. - PTI

Severe cyclonic storm Michaung’s landfall is currently underway with the eye of the cyclone situated near Bapatla in south Andhra Pradesh coast, said an official on Tuesday.

“Severe cyclonic storm Michaung is currently making landfall close to Bapatla. It is expected to complete its landfall in the next two hours. It is expected to complete crossing by 2 pm,” an Amaravati Meteorological Centre official told PTI.

There was respite from rains in most parts of Chennai since Tuesday morning giving time to officials to focus on rescue and relief efforts in rain affected areas.

Addressing a press conference at the Chennai Corporation headquarters on Tuesday morning, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin said relief measures are taking place on a war footing.

The severe cyclonic storm Michaung over west central Bay of Bengal, along and off south coastal Andhra Pradesh, moved northwards with a speed of 10 km/hr during the past six hours and lay centred at 11.30 a.m. on Tuesday about 20 km east of Ongole, 50 km south-southwest of Bapatla, 70 km north-northeast of Kavali, 110 km north-northeast of Nellore and 120 km southwest of Machilipatnam, according to the IMD bulletin issued at 12.30 p.m. on Tuesday.

The system is likely to move nearly northwards and cross south Andhra Pradesh coast close to Bapatla during the next two hours as a severe cyclonic storm, with a maximum sustained wind speed of 90 to 100 km/hr. The landfall process is continuing and is likely to continue for the next three hours.

About 9,450 people were evacuated to safety as severe cyclonic storm Michaung is expected to make landfall close to Bapatla in south Andhra Pradesh coast within the next four hours.

As per the IMD, during landfall, Michaung is expected to bring gales with speeds of 90 – 100 km per hour, gusting up to 110 kmph.

More than 1,200 sanitary workers, panchayat secretaries and block level staff from Vellore, Ranipet, Tiruvannamalai and Tirupattur districts have been roped for massive relief work in inundated areas of Greater Chennai Corporation limits especially its extended areas like Ambattur and Villivakkam zones at least for the next three days.

“Sanitary teams from respective districts were led by Block Development Officers (BDOs) and engineers. Food and accommodation will be taken care of by in-charge officers of respective districts. They will stay until the relief work is completed,” K. Selvarasu, Project Director, DRDA (Tirupattur), told The Hindu. 

The Odisha government deployed rescue teams in the southern districts of the State in the wake of severe cyclone ‘Michaung’. Rainfall has been recorded in Odisha’s Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Ganjam and Gajapati districts since Monday evening, officials said.

Gajapati received 8.5 mm rainfall, followed by 8.3 mm in Koraput, 3.9 mm in Ganjam, 2.5 mm in Malkangiri and 1.5 mm in Rayagada between 5.30 pm on Monday and 8.30 am on Tuesday, the Met Department said.

An interim Central assistance of ₹5,000 crore has been sought by the Tamil Nadu government to provide relief to people and rebuild infrastructure damaged by incessant rains in Chennai and some other districts of the State.

Raising the issue through a zero-hour mention in the Rajya Sabha, Tiruchi Siva, a leader of the DMK which rules the State, said heavy rains due to severe Cyclone Michaung have submerged Chennai and other districts. - PTI

The Tamil Nadu Government has declared a holiday for schools and colleges in Chennai, Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur districts on December 6, Wednesday.

The impact of Cyclone Michaung continued to be felt by air travellers from Hyderabad. As of Tuesday morning, a total of 16 flights, both departing and arriving at Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA), have been cancelled.

The aftermath of Cyclone Michaung led to a complete shutdown of operations at Chennai airport from Monday noon. At 9.37 a.m. today, Chennai airport officials announced resumption of normal functioning. This 17-hour disruption led to the cancellation of several flights, with some extending into Tuesday.

Notices displayed at Cantonment Railway Station in Bengaluru informing passengers of cancellation of trains to Chennai. Train services between the two cities have been disrupted due to Cyclone Michaung with South Western Railway cancelling around 10 trains.

Amid destructions caused by Severe Cyclonic storm ‘Michaung’ in the state, Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin on Tuesday said that the rains received during Cyclone period have exceeded what the state has received in 2015.

Addressing the press conference, MK Stalin said “Even after receiving historical rains, the damages are less compared to the previous times. The rains received during Cyclone Michaung exceeded what we received in 2015 when the floods were artificial due to the release of water from Sembarambakkam Lake but now it is a natural flood.”

“Chennai has escaped only because of the desilting works that we did in 4000 crores. In 2015, there were 199 deaths reported but now even with excessive rains the death toll is only 8 but still, it could have been averted,” Stalin added.

ANI

Odisha’s southern districts continued to receive light to moderate rainfall on Tuesday in the wake of severe cyclone ‘Michaung’, which is likely to make landfall between Nellore and Machilipatnam in Andhra Pradesh in a few hours, the India Meteorological Department said.

Rainfall has been recorded in Odisha’s Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Ganjam and Gajapati districts since Monday evening, officials said.

Gajapati received 8.5 mm rainfall, followed by 8.3 mm in Koraput, 3.9 mm in Ganjam, 2.5 mm in Malkangiri and 1.5 mm in Rayagada between 5.30 pm on Monday and 8.30 am on Tuesday, the Met Department said.

PTI

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday urged the Centre to provide all possible help to states affected by Cyclone Michaung.

In a post on X, Kharge said it is distressing to witness the impact of the cyclone in Tamil Nadu, where precious lives have been lost.

“The cyclone is expected to make its presence felt in Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Puducherry, and may cause heavy rains in Jharkhand. “All the state governments must receive every possible assistance from the Union Government in this hour of need. We must be together to avert any crisis,” the Congress chief said.

PTI

M. Subramanian, minister for health inspecting the mass food preparation centre at Saidapet on Tuesday. The slum tenants who have been shifted from the Murmolong bridge area were given food and other rations on Tuesday. 

Credits: Raghunathan SR

With cyclone Michaung laying 20 km away from the Nellore coast by Monday morning (10.00 am), as many as nine mandals were devastated with the uprooting of trees, and electrical poles, while large swathes of paddy fields were submerged. As the cyclone is expected to make landfall at Bapatla, 130 km from Kavali, an orange alert is issued all over Nellore district, and the official machinery is put on alert.

The slum tenements alongside of Saidapet Murmalong bridge is submerged under the stormwater on Tuesday due to excess water release from the reservoirs. Video: Srinath M

High waves ranging from 3.5 metres to 6.6 metres in height and with swell heights of up to 3.3 metres have been forecast across the coast of Andhra Pradesh due to the severe cyclonic storm ‘Michaung’. The waves could be up to 3 metres off the Tamil Nadu coast, according to a joint bulletin issued by the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) and India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Monday evening.

Gales of speeds between 60 kmph and 110 kmph, along with light to moderate to heavy rains, has also been forecast along the east coast off Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.

Rains have stopped, and water has receded. Airfield reopened from 9 a.m. There is no water stagnation on runways & taxiways. However, there is a lot of slush, which is being cleared. 

There are 21 aircraft on ground and 1,500 passengers in the terminal building.

Andhra Pradesh | Sea turns turbulent in Bapatla, strong winds and rainfall continue in wake of #CycloneMichuang. Michaung is likely to make landfall today on the southern coast of Andhra Pradesh between Nellore and Machilipatnam

Rainfall (in mm) recorded over Andhra Pradesh from 08:30 IST December 4, 2023 to 08:30 IST December 5, 2023

IMD Observatories

Bapatla - 222

Nellore - 218.1

Machilipatnam - 157

Kavali - 145.1

Tirupathi AP - 126.9

Ongole - 118.2

Kakinada - 82

Gannavaram - 70.6

Narsapur - 62.7

Amaravati - 47.2

Tuni - 26.6

Kalingapatnam - 24

Kurnool - 8.8

The severe cyclonic storm ‘Michaung’ lays centered over Westcentral Bay of Bengal off south Andhra Pradesh, about 50 km north-northeast of Nellore, 200 km north of Chennai, 110 km south-southwest of Bapatla and 170 km south-southwest of Machilipatnam, as of 5.30 a.m. on December 5 (Tuesday).

As the system is moving northwards close to the A.P. coast, some parts of the wall cloud region lies over land. It is likely to cross over south Andhra Pradesh coast between Nellore and Machilipatnam before 12 noon today with a maximum sustained wind speed of 90-100 kmph gusting to 110 kmph, as per the India Meteorological Department (IMD). 

Four cars damaged at TTD panchajanyam guest house at Tirumala, as uprooted trees fell over them. Credits: Special Arrangement

Srikalahasti fire service team rescued two persons at Bandaripalli village in Yerpedu Mandal of Tirupati District on Tuesday.

Kalangi reservoir in Tirupati district of Andhra Pradesh opened on Tuesday morning after water level reached 218ft against 222ft. 

Cyclone moving at 10 Kmph towards Andhra Pradesh coast. Michaung currently lays 35 kms east, northeast of Kavali, 70 kms away from Nellore and 90 km south, south east of Bapatla.

Bapatla receives highest rainfall until 8.30 a.m. of 213 cms.

6 killed in rain-related incidents in Chennai.

Chennai Airport to resume flight operations at 9 a.m. today. AAI asks passengers to check status of flights with the respective airlines.

​

People walk through flooded Chinthadripet area due to heavy rain yesterday. 

Credits: Ragu R

The IMD in its latest bulletin stated that Chennai, Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram, Chengalpattu, Ranipet, Vellore, Kanyakumari, Tiruppur, and Dindigul districts will receive light to moderate rainfall for the next three hours. 

With severe cyclonic storm ‘Michaung’ set to make landfall on Tuesday, the Odisha government has deployed rescue teams in the southern districts of the state as a precautionary measure.

Though there will be no major impact on Odisha, IMD Director General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said the eastern state will receive light to moderate rainfall on Monday night and the intensity will further increase and heavy rain is expected on Tuesday.

Keeping in view of the prediction of heavy rainfall in the five southern districts of Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Gajapati, and Ganjam, the state government has deployed five teams of ODRAF (Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force) and eight teams of fire service for immediate rescue operations, Odisha’s Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) Satyabrata Sahu said.

PTI

North coastal Tamil Nadu and Puducherry are expected to experience light to moderate rainfall in most places and isolated heavy rainfall on Tuesday morning, decreasing thereafter, according to the latest IMD bulletin.

The forecast of reduced rainfall intensity comes as a relief after Cyclone Michaung wreaked havoc across Chennai and adjoining districts, causing flooding and disrupting normal life on Monday.

Residents in some parts of Chennai reported no rain since early hours on Tuesday and mentioned that power services had been restored in those areas. However, train services to and from the city remain suspended.

PTI

Under the influence of Cyclone ‘Michaung’, parts of Jharkhand are likely to receive light to moderate rainfall till December 7, a weather official said on Monday.

Ranchi Meteorological Centre has predicted light rain in a few pockets on Tuesday and light to moderate showers on December 6 and 7.

Severe Cyclonic Storm ‘Michaung’ is likely to make landfall on the southern coast of Andhra Pradesh between Nellore and Machilipatnam, close to Bapatla, on Tuesday morning.

PTI

The Indian Railways has geared up its entire machinery in a big way to ensure and manage smooth and safe railway operations in the areas likely to be affected by the cyclonic storm ‘Michaung’.

The Indian Railways, as part of its preparedness for cyclone-related disaster management, has set up an emergency control cell at the divisional/HQ level with officers from operating, commercial, engineering, electrical, signal/telecommunications, security, etc. branches in each shift to monitor around the clock and take necessary action in connection with train operations.

The war room at the board level has also been activated and monitoring of all locations is being done around the clock. Safety counsellors on each shift are also nominated to assist with emergency control.

ANI

The flight operations have been disrupted in Chennai, Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam while 40 trains from to and from Kerala have been cancelled on Monday in view of the cyclone Michaung.

The arrival and departure of flights at Chennai airport has been suspended for two hours due to heavy rains and winds on Monday, December 4, 2023. Officials of the Airports Authority of India (AAI) said, the airfield will be shut for arrival operations till 9 a.m. on December 5.

Cyclone Michaung currently lays 30 Kms northeast of Nellore, 130 Kms south, southwest of Bapatla and 190 Kms north of Chennai. 

The Cyclone has been moving at a speed of 9 kmph and the wind speed has been 90 to 100 kmph during the past 6 hours. 

Over 9,600 people from Cyclone Michaung affected parts of Tamil Nadu were on Monday moved to 236 relief camps in eight locations as part of precautionary measures. 

The arrival and departure of flights at Chennai airport was cancelled till 11 p.m. on Monday because of strong winds and waterlogging in the airfield in the wake of Cyclone Michaung.

Several persons were stranded at the airport due to flight cancellations and the incessant rain on Monday.

As the system is nearly moving northwards close to coast, some parts of the wall cloud region lies over land. Likely to move nearly northwards parallel and close to south Andhra Pradesh coast and cross south Andhra Pradesh coast between Nellore and Machilipatnam, close to Bapatla during forenoon of 5th December as a Severe Cyclonic Storm”