Normal life was paralysed in Chennai, its neighboring districts, parts of northern Tamil Nadu, and Puducherry on Saturday as cyclonic storm Fengal (pronounced as Feinjal) lay centered about 50 km southeast of Mahabalipuram (Mamallapuram). The resultant rains and heavy winds led to the closure of the Chennai international and domestic airports until 4 am on Sunday. Local train services were also suspended as railway tracks in the suburbs were flooded. The Metropolitan Transport Corporation operated skeletal bus services, and people largely remained indoors.
The arrival and departure of more than 100 flights were canceled as the Chennai airport ceased operations, and at least 19 flights were diverted to nearby airports, particularly to Bengaluru, on Saturday.
The Airports Authority of India (AAI) stated that a team of senior officials is closely monitoring the situation to facilitate the earliest resumption of operations as meteorological conditions improve.
“A WebEx meeting was conducted on November 30, 2024, at 4:30 pm, involving all stakeholders and officials from the India Meteorological Department (IMD). During the meeting, IMD provided updates indicating that the landfall is expected around 8:30 pm, with prevailing weather conditions likely to persist until 11:30 pm. Following consultations with AAI Headquarters and considering feedback from stakeholders, it has been decided to extend the closure of operations through a NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) until 4:00 am IST on December 1, 2024,” the AAI said. It recommended passengers check with their respective airlines regarding their flights.
At the time of filing this report, around 7 pm, the IMD stated that the cyclonic storm over the Southwest Bay of Bengal moved westward at a speed of 7 km/h “during the past six hours and lay centered at 2:30 pm IST on November 30, 2024, over the same region near latitude 12.3°N and longitude 80.5°E, about 50 km southeast of Mahabalipuram, 80 km east-northeast of Puducherry, and 90 km south-southeast of Chennai.”
The IMD added that it is likely to move nearly westward and cross the northern Tamil Nadu-Puducherry coasts between Karaikal and Mahabalipuram, close to Puducherry, as a cyclonic storm with a wind speed of 70–80 km/h, gusting to 90 km/h during the evening of November 30. “There is a possibility of slow movement of the system while approaching the coasts,” the IMD said.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin visited the State Emergency Operations Centre in Chennai. Additionally, through video conferencing, he held a review meeting with the District Collectors of Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur, Chengalpattu, and Ranipet on the precautionary measures in place. He instructed them to shift people in the affected areas to relief camps in advance and provide them with food and basic amenities.
Three disaster relief teams have been deployed in Chennai, and 18 teams have been sent to the affected districts. The Chief Minister also ordered food to be provided free of cost at the Amma Unavagams (canteens) in Chennai on Saturday.
