Cyclone Fengal Approaches Tamil Nadu Disaster Teams on High Alert Schools and Universities Closed Amid IMD Warning

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) is witnessing intense activity in the southwestern Bay of Bengal as a deep depression is on track to intensify into Cyclone Fengal by Wednesday. This system is expected to cause heavy to extremely heavy rains in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Andhra Pradesh in the next three days.

In anticipation of severe weather conditions, authorities in Tamil Nadu declared holidays for schools and colleges in districts such as Trichy, Ramanathapuram, Nagapattinam, Cuddalore, Villupuram and Thiruvallur. Rain holiday has been declared for schools in Chennai as well.

Chennai and nearby areas including Chengelpet, Kanchipuram and Tiruvallur witnessed light to heavy intermittent rains on Tuesday. Coastal districts like Cuddalore and Cauvery delta regions including Nagapattinam recorded significant rainfall.

On Tuesday, Chennai recorded an average rainfall of 5.35 cm within the city limits; The highest density was in Manali New Town with 13.31 cm. Other districts like Nagapattinam (11 cm), Mayiladuthurai (8.9 cm), Chengelpet (8.4 cm) and Tiruvarur (7.9 cm) experienced significant showers.

Cyclone Fengal Formation

As of Wednesday morning, the deep depression was located in the southwestern Bay of Bengal, at latitude 8.2°N and longitude 82.4°E, approximately 130 km east-southeast of Trincomalee, 400 km southeast of Nagapattinam, 510 km southeast of Puducherry and It was located 590 km away. km south-southeast of Chennai.

The system, moving in the north-northwest direction at a speed of 13 km per hour, is expected to intensify within 12 hours, turning into a cyclonic storm and approaching the coast of Tamil Nadu while passing the Sri Lankan coastline. Continuous monitoring is being done at Karaikal using Doppler Weather Radar (DWR) to track its progress.

The Deep Depression over the Southwest Bay of Bengal moved northward at a speed of almost 10 km/hr in the last 6 hours, with its epicenter at 7.5°N latitude and 82.6°E in the same region at 23:30 hrs IST on 26 November 2024 It lay near longitude. Approximately 190 km southeast of… pic.twitter.com/HlrUed0v40

— India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) 26 November 2024

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TN CM Reviews Precautionary Measures

Chief Minister MK Stalin held a high-level review at the Secretariat in Chennai, highlighting preparedness.

A total of 17 disaster response teams comprising National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and government personnel have been sent to sensitive areas such as Chennai, Tiruvarur, Mayiladuthurai, Nagapattinam, Cuddalore and Thanjavur districts.

Deputy CM Udhayanidhi Stalin also inspected the canals in Chennai and advised the officials to carry out maintenance work to prevent waterlogging in the city.