Cyclone Michaung, presently swirling over the Bay of Bengal, is set to hit the Andhra Pradesh coast near Bapatla following its destructive impact on Tamil Nadu. The toll from incidents related to the rainfall in Chennai has reached eight, including cases of electrocutions and fatalities from falling trees.
With the impending arrival of the cyclone, the Andhra Pradesh administration is on high alert as the severe cyclonic storm ‘Michaung’ is expected to make landfall near Bapatla on Tuesday afternoon.
As per the India Meteorological Department, the cyclone is currently positioned approximately 25 km north-northeast of Nellore, 20 km east of Kavali, 110 km south-southwest of Bapatla, and 170 km south-southwest of Machilipatnam as of 5:30 a.m. on Tuesday.
The Severe Cyclonic Storm “Michaung” (pronounced as Migjaum) over westcentral Bay of Bengal along and off South Andhra Pradesh coast moved northwards with a speed of 10 kmph during past 06 hours and lay centered at 1330 hours IST of 5th december, 2023 over Andhra Pradesh coast
— India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) December 5, 2023
Over the past 24 hours, both Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh have encountered intense rainfall and thunderstorms. In Chennai, floodwaters surged through the streets, causing cars to be swept away and resulting in the closure of the city’s bustling airport until Tuesday morning.
Efforts to provide relief are in progress, involving the deployment of around 5,000 workers to Chennai from various regions of Tamil Nadu. While flight services at Chennai airport have resumed, the staff remains vigilant in the aftermath of the cyclone.
