Cyclone Mandous live updates | Weather warning downgraded to orange and yellow code for Saturday

With the cyclonic storm ‘Mandous’, brewing over the Bay of Bengal, likely to hit north Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coasts around December 10, intense rain lashed many districts of Tamil Nadu since Thursday. The IMD in its forecast On December 9, predicted intense rain with intense spells of rain likely to occur at a few places over Tiruvallur, Chennai, Chengalpattu and Kancheepuram districts, it said.

Four places have been issued red-colour coded warning for torrential rain, the north coastline from Tiruvallur to Nagapattinam have been warned of strong winds on Friday.

The weather system has increased hopes of bridging the rain deficit over the State this monsoon season.

Teams of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) have been deployed in the South Coastal Andhra Pradesh in view of rain forecast under the influence of cyclonic storm ‘Mandous’. The district administrations are bracing for any possible eventuality as the weather system over the Bay of Bengal is likely to intensify into a severe cyclonic storm on December 9 (Friday).

During landfall, the storm is likely to cause damages in the six alerted districts of Chittoor, Tirupati, Prakasam, Kadapa, Nellore, and Annamayya in Andhra Pradesh. Communication and power lines, thatched huts and trees are likely to be damaged.

Here are the live updates:

Eight houses washed away in Puducherry’s Pillaichavady

Eight houses were washed away as high tide hit the Pillaichavady coast near Kalapet on Friday morning under the impact of Cyclone Mandous.

Revenue officials said the houses were not inhabited as the families had been allotted houses in the Tsunami quarters.

The houses were in a dilapidated condition due to rampant erosion of the coast, and were unable to withstand the impact of the high tide and the incessant downpour, and therefore, caved in.

The incident triggered panic among the residents who resorted to a road blockade on the East Coast Road, demanding the construction of groynes to prevent sea erosion.

On receiving this information, Kalapet MLA P.M.L. Kalyanasundaram held talks with the agitators but they refused to budge. Traffic was disrupted on the ECR for over an hour due to the protest — S. Prasad

Puducherry braces for Cyclone Mandous

On Friday, Puducherry Chief Minister N. Rangasamy visited the beach, Kurussukuppam and Pillayichavadi to assess cyclone preparedness. He advised people not to venture into sea and directed police to keep vigil along the beach.

The Puducherry Tourism Development Corporation has declared holiday for its staff in the water sports division and restaurants run by the entity near beaches and backwaters. 

The administration has set up 238 relief camps and made preparations to provide food for 75,000 people per day in case of any necessity to evacuate people. Branches of trees fell on Bussy Street, Kamaraj Nagar, Saram areas. There were reports of sea water entering the coastal hamlets near Kurussukuppam and Vaithikuppam areas. 

Two teams of National Disaster Response Force have been kept on standby in Puducherry. Another team, has been stationed in Karaikal region to meet any emergency situation arising out of the cyclone — Rajesh B. Nair

169 relief centres set up in Chennai

A total of 12 trees have been uprooted in Chennai city. As many as 169 relief centres and 882 pumps have been kept ready in Chennai ahead of the landfall of Cyclone Mandous on Friday midnight — Aloysius Xavier Lopez

Wooden pathway for the differently-abled damaged at Marina beach

The exclusive, permanent pathway built at the Marina beach in Chennai to enable access for persons with disabilities and that was inaugurated less than a fortnight ago (on November 27, 2022), was left damaged due to rough seas in view of approaching Cyclone Mandous.

The ramp, said to be the first-of-its-kind in India, has been built using three types of wood — babool, red meranti and Brazilian timber. The facility, established by the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC), has been developed with funding from Singara Chennai 2.0 at an estimated cost of ₹1.14 crore.

The 3-metre-wide pathway with a total length of 263 metres leads to a 22-metre-wide deck for the differently-abled persons as well as senior citizens to view the sea.

Fire and Rescue Services from Vellore moves to Chengalpattu

Streetlight poles damaged at Chennai

Gusty winds and intermittent rains lashing Chennai led to streetlight poles falling early on Friday, on a road in Madipakkam, Chennai.

At 5.30 a.m., the residents of 13th street, Kuberan Nagar Extension found that at least four poles had fallen, two of them touching high-tension cables, hanging above. The poles had also become entangled in the cables of telecom/internet service providers.

S. Chandran, a resident of the street said, “I was shocked to see the poles falling just in front of my house early this morning. I made a call to the toll-free number of the electricity department and later to the Chennai Corporation. The staff of Chennai Corporation came and removed the poles after snapping the power.”

The movement of vehicles and early morning walkers was affected due to the fallen poles, he said — R. Sivaraman

Rough sea at Puducherry

The weather warning downgraded to orange and yellow colour codes for Saturday

The weather warning has been downgraded to orange and yellow colour codes for Saturday. Light to moderate rains may occur at most places on Saturday. 

Severe cyclonic storm Mandous is set to weaken into a cyclone, as it heads towards the north Tamil Nadu coast, and makes landfall around Mamallapuram between midnight on Friday and the early hours of Saturday.

Anchored boat capsizes in Ramanathapuram

Chennai fishermen stay off the seas

Chennai civic body issues precautionary measures, shuts parks, playgrounds

As the ‘Mandous Cyclone’ is likely to become severe and gather more intensity by Friday morning, the Greater Chennai Corporation issued precautionary measures and ordered to close all parks and playgrounds till further notice.

The Greater Chennai Corporation Commissioner had a discussion with officials regarding precautionary measures to be taken in view Mandous Cyclone.

Chennai Corporation also asked people not to visit beaches tomorrow and also asked them to park cars in open areas and not under trees.

Meanwhile, all the schools and colleges will be closed on Friday in Puducherry and Karaikal in view of cyclone Mandous, said Education Minister A Namassivayam.— ANI

Residential areas in Chennai inundated

Water to be released from reservoirs

Water Resources Department plans to release 100 cusecs from Red Hills reservoir at 12 noon today as a precautionary measure. The department is expecting more inflow from catchment areas due to approaching Cyclone Mandous. At present, the reservoir is receiving an inflow of around 140 cusecs.

About 100 cusecs of water would be released from Chembarambakkam and Poondi reservoirs at noon. Water Resources Department has started releasing 100 cusecs from Porur lake as well since this morning

Rain lashes Chennai

Gusts along Marina beach

Holiday declared for schools and colleges

Dindigul Collector declared holiday for schools and colleges in Sirumalai and Kodaikanal regions. Also, holiday was declared today for Krishnagiri Education district, which includes schools in Kaveripattinam, Mathur, Bargur, and Krishnagiri.

For schools in Theni district and schools and colleges in Karur and Thoothukudi district, holidays were announced.