Cyclone Fengal Landfall Likely Near Puducherry Today; Schools & Colleges Shut Amid Red Alert

Cyclone Fengal is expected to make landfall in Puducherry on Saturday, bringing heavy rain and wind.

Cyclone Fengal is likely to make landfall near Puducherry on Saturday.

Source : PTI

Cyclone Fengal is likely to make landfall near Puducherry on Saturday afternoon, and residents have been asked to stay indoors. The cyclonic storm over the Southwest Bay of Bengal is about 210 kilometres southeast of Chennai and is moving west—northwestwards, according to the India Meteorological Department. 

Cyclonic Storm 'Fengal' over Southwest Bay of Bengal near latitude 11.8°N and longitude 81.7°E, about 210 km southeast of Chennai, the weather department said. 

To move west-northwestwards and cross north Tamil Nadu-Puducherry coasts between Karaikal and Mahabalipuram close to Puducherry as a cyclonic storm with a wind speed of 70-80 kmph gusting to 90 kmph during the afternoon of 30th November, it added. 

The cyclone is expected to bring heavy rainfall and strong winds with IMD issuing a red alert for "extremely" heavy rainfall, thunderstorm, and lightning. Many coastal areas have started witnessing changes in weather with high tides and rain.

#WATCH | 3-Dimensional video of cyclone Fengal clouds in Chennai Radar

Due to the impact of Cyclone Fengal, many coastal areas witnessed changes in weather with high tides and rain. According to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), Cyclone Fengal will hit the coastal… pic.twitter.com/2wDbbKwupQ

— ANI (@ANI) November 29, 2024

#WATCH | Chennai | Due to the impact of cyclone Fengal, many coastal areas witnessed changes in weather with high tides and rain.

According to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), Cyclone Fengal will hit the coastal area tomorrow evening. pic.twitter.com/O53r6Wy8dv

— ANI (@ANI) November 30, 2024

• All the schools and colleges in the Union Territory will remain closed on Saturday, said the officials. 
• District Collector A Kulothungan held a meeting with the officials of the Public Works Department, local administration, police, and other line departments and took stock of the situation.
• To receive distress calls from the public, the Department of Revenue and Disaster Management has set up toll-free numbers 112 and 1077. A WhatsApp number 9488981070 has also been set up for the people to seek help.
• The Tamil Nadu government suspended public transport on key roads including the East Coast Road (ECR) and Old Mahabalipuram Road (OMR), during the afternoon of November 30, reported India Today. 
• The state government has also advised IT companies to allow their employees to work from home on Saturday. 
• Meanwhile, 4,253 boats have returned to the shore complying with an advisory while 2,229 relief camps have been set up for use if needed, said the state government. 
• NDRF and state teams have been deployed wherever needed including Nagapattinam, Mayiladuthurai, Tiruvarur, Cuddalore, Thanjavur, Chengelpet and Chennai.
• A total of 471 people belonging to 164 families have been accommodated in six relief camps in Tiruvarur and Nagapattinam districts and necessary machinery and equipment including boats, generators, and motor pumps have been kept ready.
• Senior officials who have been assigned to supervise and coordinate related tasks are present in their respective districts. 

(With inputs from agencies)