Parked cars in Chennai were swept away one by one by Cyclone Michaung

Cyclone Michaung, due to make landfall tomorrow, is expected to unleash even more fury on Chennai and nearby districts today. Many low-lying areas and residential areas were swamped, with officials struggling to clear the stagnant water.

Social media videos show streets heavily flooded and cars being swept away by strong currents. Many parts of Chennai are submerged in floodwater, including Chennai’s Chrompet GST Road, which is experiencing severe traffic jams. The Vadakarai Road in north Chennai is also flooded, making it impassable from Madhavaram to Sengunram.

The city of Chennai and its neighboring districts received heavy rainfall overnight, with Meenambakkam receiving 196mm and Nungambakkam receiving 154.3mm in the 24 hours leading up to 5:30 a.m.In Chennai and three adjacent districts, all schools, colleges, and government offices are closed today, and the state government is urging private companies to allow their employees to work from home today.

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To assist those affected by the heavy rain that lashed the city and its neighboring districts overnight, authorities have opened nearly 5,000 relief centers. A review of the safety measures was conducted last night by Chief Minister MK Stalin, who will closely monitor the situation over the next few days.

Michaung Update – Wait till mid-night for rains to stop

Now lies in the seas off the Ponneri-Sriharikota belt. Huge clouds have bloomed south and west of the Cyclone. Rains in Chennai (KTCC) to continue till midnight. So more spells will come as long as the cyclone is near by. pic.twitter.com/v0qEOa8mNl

— Tamil Nadu Weatherman (@praddy06) December 4, 2023

In order to aid in relief and rescue efforts, eight NDRF teams and nine SDRF teams have been deployed to Villupuram, Mayiladuthurai, Nagapattinam, Thiruvallur, Cuddalore, and Chengalpattu.

As Cyclone Michaung approached the southern coastal region before making landfall, the state government of Andhra Pradesh issued an alert to the eight districts, causing heavy rains in some areas of the state on Monday.

Senior officials convened a review meeting with Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy regarding the cyclone, during which he launched multiple relief initiatives. The districts of Tirupati, Nellore, Prakasam, Bapatla, Krishna, West Godavari, Konaseema, and Kakinada were also placed on alert.