Cyclone Mandous: Five Dead, Thousands Find Refuge In Shelter Homes In Tamil Nadu

Around 300 houses were damaged in the rain and 169 shelters have been set up in Chennai and its suburbs, the Tamil Nadu revenue department officials said.

Heavy rain pounded many parts of Tamil Nadu after Cyclone 'Mandous' struck

Source : PTI

New Delhi: At least five people have lost their lives so far and 10,000 people lodged in shelter homes as heavy rain pounded many parts of Tamil Nadu after Cyclone Mandous struck, IANS reported.

Around 300 houses were damaged in the rain and 169 shelters have been set up in Chennai and its suburbs, the Tamil Nadu revenue department officials said.

The red alert announced in the Kancheepuram, Chengalpattu and Villupuram districts of Tamil Nadu continued for Sunday also.

IANS reported that the Tamil Nadu government is likely to declare a holiday for schools and other educational institutions, including colleges on Monday considering the heavy damages caused by the cyclone.

On Sunday morning, the Greater Chennai Corporation officials and Greater Chennai Police cleared over 500 trees uprooted during the cyclone.

The Hindustan Petroleum Outlet on Pantheon Road, Chennai was damaged after a huge banyan tree crashed on it. However, workers were unhurt as the banyan tree crashed on the outlet just after the workers had closed the pump and left, IANS reported.

Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin told the media that proper preparation and planning for Cyclone Mandous has led to the concerned departments swinging into action and thus reducing the damage.

India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Saturday evening tweeted that the cyclone has now weakened to a well-marked low-pressure area over the interiors of north Tamil Nadu. 

"The depression (a remnant of the cyclonic storm "Mandous," pronounced "Man-Dous") has weakened into a well-marked low-pressure area over north interior Tamil Nadu and the surrounding neighborhood," the IMD Chennai tweeted.

Depression (remnant of the cyclonic storm “Mandous” pronounced as “Man-
Dous”) weakened into a Well Marked Low Pressure Area over north interior Tamil Nadu
and neighbourhood pic.twitter.com/nLFlADTP8r

— India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) December 10, 2022

A recently constructed wooden ramp for the disabled at Chennai's Marina beach was damaged by high waves caused by Cyclone Mandous on Friday morning. According to officials, the 263-metre-long, 3-metre-wide ramp was built at a cost of Rs 1.14 crore using a combination of numerous types of wood, including Brazilian wood. Udhayanidhi Stalin, son of Chepauk MLA and Chief Minister MK Stalin, inaugurated it.

In Tamil Nadu, up to 16,000 police officers and 1,500 home guards have been deployed for security, relief, and rescue operations, while a 40-member TN State Disaster Response Force team, as well as 12 District Disaster Response Force teams, are on standby, as per a report by Indian Express. 

(With inputs from IANS)