Numerous areas in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh experienced intense rainfall on Monday ahead of the expected landfall of severe cyclonic storm “Michaung” on Tuesday. It is also expected to rain in a number of Odisha and Jharkhand districts.
The chief ministers of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Puducherry met with Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday to discuss the issues raised by Cyclone Michaung. He promised the matter will be addressed with full support from the national government.
The minister tweeted, “A discussion was held with the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh state Shri YS Jagan Mohan Reddy on the pre-emptive measures being taken in the event of Cyclone Maichang crossing the coast. Saving people’s lives is our first priority. The central government is ready to provide all necessary assistance to Andhra Pradesh. NDRF personnel are already depleted in the state. We have kept more teams ready to help if required.”
10 developments related to the crisis management of cyclone ‘Michaung’:
- According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Monday, a powerful cyclonic storm named “Michaung” is predicted to make landfall on Tuesday morning between Nellore and Machilipatnam, close to Bapatla, on the southern coast of Andhra Pradesh.
- In Chennai on Monday, rain-related incidents claimed the lives of at least five individuals.
- An emergency control cell has been formed by Indian Railways at both divisional and headquarters levels. As a precaution, the East Coast Railway (ECoR) has canceled sixty trains that fall under its purview. A Crisis Management Cell has also been activated by ECoR.
- Up till December 7, some parts of Jharkhand are predicted to see light to moderate rainfall, a meteorological official said on Monday. Light to moderate rains are predicted for December 6 and 7, with light rain in certain locations on Tuesday, according to the Ranchi Meteorological Centre’s forecast.
- Odisha is not expected to be significantly affected, but Monday night’s light to moderate rainfall is expected, according to IMD Director General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra.
- The runway at Chennai Airport was flooded by the heavy rain on Monday, thus the authorities had to suspend operations.
- On Tuesday, the Tamil Nadu government also urged private businesses and establishments in the districts of Chennai, Thiruvallur, Kancheepuram, and Chengalpattu to allow their staff members to work from home.
- Districts in Andhra Pradesh, including Nellore, Tirupati, Bapatla, Prakasam, Konaseema, Krishna, West Godavari, and Kakinada, are under alert.
- A financial aid pledge was made by Chief Minister Reddy, who said that Tirupati district would receive ₹2 crore and the districts of Nellore, Prakasam, Bapatla, Krishna, West Godavari, Konaseema, and Kakinada would receive ₹1 crore apiece.
- In eight districts, there are 181 relief camps where the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) are conducting evacuation operations.