Cyclone Mandous LIVE Updates: Delay in 27 Chennai departures, rain lashes Andhra

A portion of a ‘permanent ramp’ that was recently installed at Marina Beach in Chennai to help differently-abled people, was damaged by strong winds on Saturday as Cyclone Mandous passed through Tamil Nadu.

The ramp was inaugurated on November 27.

Several areas in Chennai saw waterlogging and squally winds uprooting trees in the state capital and the nearby Chengalpattu district.

The rainfall triggered by the cyclone has caused severe waterlogging in low-lying areas. Roads in the MMDA Colony in Arumbakkam here were submerged. A video showed a large tree uprooted in Egmore, causing several damage to a petrol bunk nearby.

The Greater Chennai Traffic Police Saturday in a tweet announced that vehicular movement along the East Coast Road (ECR) resumed at 6am. The stretch had been closed since 10pm last night, due to the cyclone.

A wall collapsed in T Nagar area of Chennai and caused severe damage to three cars that were parked near it as cyclone Mandous raged. 

Cyclone alert messages have been sent through common alert protocol (CAP) to as many as 89 lakh subscribers spread across the six districts which are likely to be affected due to heavy rains during December 8-10, according to official information.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy held a review meeting with officials concerned on the cyclone-related rains. He instructed the collectors of SPSR Nellore, Tirupati, Chittoor and Annamayya districts to be on alert and open relief camps wherever there is a need. Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy also directed the officials to ensure people would not venture out in those areas where heavy rains are expected.

According to a status report of the Andhra Pradesh government, Naidupeta in Tirupati district received the highest rainfall at 281.5 mm during the past 24 hours ending at 8.30 am on Saturday.

Heavy rains lashed several parts of south coastal and Rayalaseema districts of Andhra Pradesh early on Saturday after cyclonic storm Mandous made landfall off Mamallapuram in neighbouring Tamil Nadu.

Complaints of overnight power cut are pouring in on social media and residents of power supply yet to be restored in many parts of the city.

Between 6 am on Friday and 6 am today, a total of 30 domestic and international flights were cancelled as airport operations were affected due to cyclone Mandous. The airport runway was briefly closed in the early hours today. Besides, nine outbound flights were cancelled while 21 incoming airplanes were diverted to other cities today.

Amidst complaints of overnight power cuts in many parts of the city as Mandous cyclone made the landfall, electricity minister V Senthilbalaji said that the power supply will be restored before noon. The minister said that the power interruptions were reported in only 10 substations and added that electricity supply were cut in 622 feeders as a precautionary measure due to speedy winds, without specifying the areas. 

According to Chennai police, nearly 100 trees fell in different parts of the metro and 52 have been removed in coordination with its personnel. Power poles fell down in five locations and three had been cleared. Vehicular traffic, which has been suspended on the Kamarajar Salai off the Marina, has been resumed, police said. Sub-ways did not suffer waterlogging.

Tamil Nadu Revenue and Disaster Management Minister KKSSR Ramachandran, citing initial estimates, said there was no major damage as expected.

Over 9,000 persons have been lodged in 205 relief centres, he added

Civic agencies, including the Greater Chennai Corporation here were involved in removing the fallen trees. Power remained suspended in many parts of the city and the surroundings.

“The cyclonic storm Mandous (meaning treasure box) weakened into a deep depression over north Tamil Nadu coast. To move nearly west-northwestwards and gradually weaken into a depression by noon of 10th december,” the IMD Chennai said.

A wall collapsed in T Nagar area of Chennai and caused serious damage to three cars that were parked near it. Nobody was present in the cars at the time of the incident.

Cyclone Mandous crossed the Tamil Nadu coast and is in deep depression and its strength is weakening. It is moving towards the Northwest direction so areas in northwest districts will witness strong winds of 55-65 kmph which will further decrease by evening to 30-40 kmph.

Tamil Nadu Rainfall data (in mm) till 05.30 of 10 December

Observatories:

Chennai Nungambakkam- 111.3

Chennai Meenambakkam- 115.1

Puducherry- 29

Karaikal- 5

Cuddalore- 22

Nagapattinam- 5

Salem- 2

Madurai AP- 0.5

Kanyakumari- 0.4

Kodaikanal- 55

Adiramapattinam- 0.1

Vellore- 3.0Erode- 1.0

Karur Paramathy- 5.0

Parangipettai- 7.0

Coimbatore Airport- 3.0

Dharmapuri- 2.0

“Cyclone Mandous crossed the coast and is in deep depression and its strength is weakening. It is moving towards the Northwest direction so areas in northwest districts will witness strong winds of 55-65 kmph which will further decrease by evening to 30-40 kmph,” S Balachandran, DDGM, RMC Chennai said. 

Cyclonic storm ‘Mandous’ affected MMDA Colony of Arumbakkam as waterlogging seen in low-lying areas due to heavy rainfall.

The wooden ramp for disabled at the Marina Beach, inaugurated two weeks ago, was damaged and dislocated by heavy waves in the wee hours of Friday. The civic body had set up the 263-metre-long ramp at a cost of ₹1. 15 crore using Brazilian wood and it was punched into the mud using bolts, Times of India reported. 

Some parts of Maharashtra might receive unseasonal rainfall in the next 48 hours due to the cyclone storm ‘Mandous’, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said. Mild or medium rainfall is expected to hit Konkan, Marathwada and most districts of central Maharashtra after 48 hours.

Cyclone Mandous, which brought up to 10 cm of rainfall and winds raging at 65 kmph-75 kmph and gusts that touched 85 kmph, started crossing the east coast at Mamallapuram near Chennai around 9. 30pm on Friday. The IMD said that the landfall has been complete and the cyclone is set to weaken into a depression. 

Devotees visiting Tirupati Venkateswara Temple in Tirumala on Friday faced several problems ranging from hampered darshan to difficulty in reaching hotels as heavy rain battered the city under the influence of Cyclone Mandous.

As per reports, the low lying areas of the Tirumala, including the temple premises, witnessed waterlogging making it difficult for the devotees, including elderly and disabled persons, to commute from their accommodated hotels.

The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) requested people to avoid going out until Cyclone Mandous weakens adding that almost 65 trees fell in three hours and motor pumps are being used to remove water stagnation in low-lying areas.

The India Meteorological Department said that the landfall process of Cyclone Mandous had been completed. Mandous is all set to weaken, following the landfall, to a deep depression and later a depression on Saturday.

“Cyclone MANDOUS rear sector has moved into land and the landfall process has been completed. It is very likely to move nearly westnorthwestwards and gradually weaken into a deep depression during next 2 hours and into a depression by noon of 10th December,” IMD said in a tweet at 4:48 am.

The India Meteorological Department predicted that the maximum wind speed to cross up to 85 kmph in view of the ‘Mandous Cyclone’ and has issued a red alert.

The three states given red alerts are Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Andhra Pradesh. 

Heavy rains with strong winds were experienced in Puducherry. Cyclone Mandous is expected to cross Puducherry and Sriharikota on Saturday at midnight or morning.

Dindigul Collector declared a holiday for schools and colleges in Sirumalai and Kodaikanal for Saturday.

In view of cyclone Mandous, the Chennai Division of Southern Railway on Friday announced that suburban trains in Chennai may be cancelled/rescheduled if necessary to prevent untoward incidents.

Divisional Railway manager Chennai Division Ganesh has instructed the Branch officers concerned and field officers to reiterate safety instructions.

“Suburban trains may be cancelled/rescheduled if necessary to prevent untoward incidents, based on weather warning reports and prevailing situation. Close liaison is being maintained with the state Meteorological Department and adjoining Railway zones for managing the situation,” the notice read. 

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin said that all the precautionary measures have been taken in view of Cyclone Mandous.

“The government has taken all the precautionary measures and the officers are regularly monitoring the situation,” said MK Stalin.

“Whatever the situation may be Government will ensure the protection of the people. District wise the monitoring of the cyclone has also been deployed,” he added. 

After Cyclone Mandous made landfall off Mamallapuram, several parts of Chennai are facing heavy rainfall and strong winds.

S Balachandran, DDGM, RMC Chennai said, “Cyclone Mandous crossed the coast and is in deep depression and it’s strength is weakening. It is moving towards Northwest direction so areas in northwest dists will witness strong winds of 55-65 kmph which will further decrease by evening to 30-40 kmph.”

“Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) requests all to avoid going out until cyclonic storm ‘Mandous’ weakens. Almost 65 trees have fallen down in 3 hrs & GCC is taking measures to remove them. Motor pumps are being used to remove water stagnation in low lying saucer shaped areas”, GCC warned. 

Heavy to very heavy rains are expected to lash at several places in Nellore, Annamayya, Chittoor and Tirupati districts of Andhra Pradesh, as severe cyclonic storm Mandous is expected to cross the coast between Puducherry and Nellore’s Sriharikota in the early hours of Saturday.