Cyclone Migjaum rages in South India, Chennai under water, eight dead

Chennai city under water

Eight people have died in the state so far due to the collapse of houses and electrocution due to the impact of Migjaum, the BBC’s Tamil section reported, citing the police.

Correspondents of the BBC’s Tamil section report that almost the entire capital city of Chennai has been under water since Monday.

In the videos they have sent, it is seen that the water is up to the neck in some places, and the water is waist deep in some places.

One such video, also provided by the BBC’s Tamil section, shows a cargo truck almost completely submerged in water.

Another video, which the BBC could not verify, shows a crocodile walking along a flooded road.

Tamil Nadu Forest Department Secretary Supriya Chagu said in a post on social media that there are crocodiles in several swampy areas of Chennai. They are quite harmless and generally try to stay away from humans.

However, the forest department has also warned that people should not go near crocodiles if they see them.

Chennai city has recorded 40 cm rainfall in the last 24 hours.

Videos of cars being swept away by water from a car parking area near low-lying apartments in Medavakkam and Pallikaranai on the outskirts of the city are being widely shared on social media.

As one floor of the house was flooded in some places, people took shelter in the houses of friends and relatives on two or three floors.

The transport system is broken

Chennai’s transport system has been completely disrupted due to the floods. As cars, buses etc. are stuck on the roads, several tunnels have to be closed as well. At least 150 trains have been cancelled.

Chennai airport had to be closed on Monday.

However, the rain has stopped in Chennai since Tuesday morning, and the airport has reopened.

But large parts of the city are still under water. According to reports received on Tuesday afternoon, water has started receding from some areas.

Reuters also reported that electronics industries in and around Chennai have been shut down.

Municipal Administration Minister KN Nehru told reporters that around three lakh people living in Chennai have been affected by the rains and the government is making arrangements to deliver food to places where people are unable to go out.

The district administration and Chennai Corporation have shifted people from low-lying areas to nearby relief centres. Many have to be rescued by boat.

The Chennai Corporation, fire department and police are working to remove fallen trees from the road.

Situation in Andhra Pradesh

BBC Telugu section says that gusty or gale-force winds are blowing at the speed of 90-110 km per hour along the coast. Light to moderate rains are likely at many places over coastal Andhra Pradesh.

Heavy to very heavy rain is expected at a few places in East Godavari, West Godavari, Eluru, Krishna, NTR, Guntur, Bapatala and Palnadu Prakasam districts on Tuesday.

The cyclone will cross the coast near Nellore and Bapatala, the Meteorological Department said.

Several parts of Nellore and Tirupati districts received more than 25 cm of rain in the last 24 hours.

Strong winds of 100 km per hour caused power outages. Officials of the electricity department said that thousands of electricity poles were uprooted.

Around 98,000 hectares of paddy has been damaged in the run-up to the harvest season. Another 30,000 hectares of land are reported to have been submerged in water after harvesting.

According to government statistics, 98 resettlement centers have been set up in Nellore district alone and 6,000 people have been evacuated.

Members of the National and State Disaster Response Force have already reached the cyclone-hit areas.