Cyclone Fengal: Chennai Airport temporarily halts operations amid severe weather

Chennai Airport services hit due to Cyclone Fengal

Chennai International Airport temporarily halted till 7 P.M on Saturday, November 30 as Cyclone Fengal approached the Tamil Nadu coast, bringing heavy rains and adverse weather conditions.

IndiGo Airlines announced that no flights would be arriving or departing until 1 P.M. on Saturday due to the impact of the cyclone.

An IndiGo source confirmed that operations were suspended because of the severe weather, with several flights affected. An IndiGo flight from Abu Dhabi, scheduled to land at 8:10 AM, was diverted to Bengaluru.

Additionally, an Air India Express flight to Singapore was canceled due to technical issues, while Sri Lankan Airlines also canceled its flight from Chennai to Colombo, which was scheduled to depart at 9:40 AM. Passengers in Terminal 2 are being temporarily accommodated in nearby hotels.

The cyclone, currently located 150 km east of Puducherry and 140 km southeast of Chennai, is expected to make landfall on Saturday evening, between Karaikal and Mamallapuram (Mahabalipuram).

As it moves westward, the cyclone is anticipated to cross the northern Tamil Nadu-Puducherry coast near Puducherry as a cyclonic storm, bringing winds of 70-80 km/h, with gusts reaching up to 90 km/h, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

Heavy rainfall, triggered by the cyclone, has caused water stagnation in several parts of Chennai, with 12 subways reported to be flooded. The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) has urged residents to stay away from beaches, amusement parks, and other recreational areas, all of which remain closed today. In response, the GCC has mobilized 28,000 workers to assist with rain relief efforts, and 36 boats have been placed on standby for emergencies.

The Tamil Nadu State Disaster Management Authority (TNSDMA) has issued a public warning, advising people to avoid water bodies and take precautions during the heavy rains. District authorities have also urged residents to stay indoors during thunderstorms and not park vehicles under trees.

As heavy rains continue to batter coastal districts such as Mayiladuthurai, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, and Nagapattinam, floodwaters have inundated low-lying areas like Sebastian Nagar and Sivasakthi Nagar in Velankanni. In Nagore, Valliammai Nagar and Gomathi Nagar have also reported flooding.

Authorities have set up a 24-hour control room with a toll-free helpline (04365-1077) for rain-related emergencies.

Coastal areas are also experiencing rough seas, with waves in Cuddalore reaching over 10 feet. Fishermen have been advised to stay ashore, and all mechanized and motorized boats have been docked.

In response, the Cuddalore Port has raised Cyclone Warning Signal Number 3 due to the forecasted strong winds and heavy rains.

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