Fengal brings heavy rain, shuts air traffic

HOSPITALS AND HOUSES WERE INUNDATED IN CHENNAI AS CIVIC AGENCIES SAID CLEARING WORKS WERE ON IN A 'WAR-FOOTING'

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Cyclone Fengal made landfall near Puducherry on Saturday evening, bringing heavy rain and strong winds that forced the closure of Chennai's international airport and stranded travellers, even as thousands of disaster relief and government personnel stood by to mount an emergency response.

The cyclone struck the coast at approximately 6:30 PM local time, maintaining its cyclonic storm intensity with wind speeds of 70-80km per hour and gusts up to 90km/hour. Even before the landfall, significant rainfall had already been recorded across the region, with Chennai's Meenambakkam area receiving 11.4cm and the Nungambakkam area recording 10.4cm. Puducherry and Cuddalore reported 9.5 and 3cm, respectively.

The strong winds packed by the tropical storm caused scary moments for at least one flight, an IndiGo jet, which aborted its landing moments before touch down after the pilots appeared to struggle with keeping the aircraft stable.

Tamil Nadu minister for revenue and disaster management, KKSSR Ramachandran said there were no immediate reports of a major damage in the aftermath of the cyclone and said related details could be known possibly by Sunday. Three people were electrocuted in different rain-related incidents in Chennai earlier in the day.