Cyclone Fengal to make landfall soon: Multiple flights affected in Chennai due to heavy rains

Cyclone Fengal, currently over the Southwest Bay of Bengal, is predicted to make landfall along the northern Tamil Nadu coast later today. This weather system has already caused disruptions in flight operations and severe weather conditions across coastal areas, with authorities urging the public to take precautions.

Flight Disruptions Across Southern India

In anticipation of Cyclone Fengal's impact, multiple airlines, including Air India and IndiGo, issued travel advisories and warned of disruptions to flights in several cities of Tamil Nadu. On Friday, heavy rain in Chennai and other southern cities affected flight schedules.

"Flights to and from Chennai are getting affected due to inclement weather and heavy rains," Air India posted on X (formerly Twitter). Similarly, IndiGo Airlines updated passengers, saying, "The current weather conditions continue to impact flights to/from Chennai, Tiruchirappalli, Tuticorin, Madurai, with Tirupati and Vishakhapatnam now also affected," through a post on the platform.



Due to the worsening weather, IndiGo temporarily suspended all arrival and departure flight operations at Chennai Airport. The airline advised passengers to stay updated on flight statuses. The Chennai Airport also shared an update: "IndiGo Airlines has temporarily suspended all arrival and departure flight operations at Chennai Airport due to adverse weather conditions. Flight operations will resume once the weather improves, prioritising the safety of passengers and crew."

Cyclone Fengal's Path and Forecasted Impact

According to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), Cyclone Fengal, which has been moving west-northwestwards at 12 kmph, is expected to cross the north Tamil Nadu-Puducherry coasts between Karaikal and Mahabalipuram later this evening. IMD forecasts the storm will make landfall with wind speeds between 70-80 kmph, gusting to 90 kmph.

"The Cyclonic Storm 'FENGAL' over Southwest Bay of Bengal moved west-northwestwards with a speed of 12 kmph during past 6 hours and lay centred at 0530 hours IST of today, 30th November 2024, near latitude 12.2°N and longitude 81.2°E, about 150 km east of Puducherry, 140 km southeast of Chennai," the IMD stated.

With the storm’s approach, heavy rainfall is expected to continue across several districts. The Regional Meteorological Centre in Chennai has warned of isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall in Chennai, Cuddalore, Puducherry, and surrounding districts. The forecast also includes extremely heavy rain at one or two places over Tiruvallur, Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram, and Villuppuram districts.

Public Safety and Coastal Area Closures

As Cyclone Fengal approaches the coast, authorities have issued safety advisories for coastal areas, particularly in Chennai and Puducherry. Local governments have asked the public to avoid visiting beaches, including Marina Beach, Pattinapakkam, and Edward Elliot Beach, due to rough sea conditions. In Puducherry, authorities have closed tourist spots as a precautionary measure.

SSP Kalaivanan, a senior official in Puducherry, reassured the public, saying, "The government and police are fully prepared to handle Cyclone Fengal and have prohibited the public from visiting coastal areas." The region has seen moderate rainfall today, with worsening sea conditions.

School and College Closures

In light of the severe weather conditions, a holiday has been declared for schools and colleges in several districts of Tamil Nadu, including Kanchipuram. The Kanchipuram district administration announced that all public and private educational institutions would remain closed today, November 30, in anticipation of the cyclone’s impact.

Continued Monitoring and Preparedness

IMD has been monitoring Cyclone Fengal through its Doppler weather radars and satellite observations, ensuring constant updates for safety measures across the region. The weather department has maintained a red alert for the affected areas, urging residents to stay indoors and take necessary precautions against the expected heavy rain and winds.