NEW DELHI, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- At least three people were killed in separate rain-related incidents in Chennai as cyclone Fengal made landfall along the coastal lines of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, bringing heavy rainfall and triggering inundation of several parts, officials said Sunday.
Cyclone Fengal made landfall on Saturday night. The cyclonic storm crossed north Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coasts, close to Puducherry with a wind speed of 70-80 kmph gusting to 90 kmph.
The rains led to flooding low-lying areas and disrupting flights and train services in Chennai.
"Cyclonic storm Fengal has caused extremely heavy rainfall over city of Puducherry. The city recorded 48.4cm today, the 1st Dec (cumulative rainfall during past 24 hours till 0830 hours IST of today). It is the highest 24-hours cumulative rainfall in last 30-years for the period 1995-2024," the IMD in a statement said.
In Chennai, the highest rainfall of 13.2cm was recorded by the automatic weather station at Jaya Engineering College, followed by Meenambakkam with 11.4cm, and Nungambakkam with 10.4cm.
The Chennai airport, which was shut for 16 hours due to the cyclone, reopened at 4:00 a.m. (local time) on Sunday, but many flights were cancelled or delayed.
Heavy rainfall has also led to the inundation of residential areas on the outskirts of Puducherry. Trees were uprooted at various places under the impact of the cyclonic storm. Power outages were reported in most of the localities since Saturday.
In the wake of waterlogging residents could not step out of their houses for hours.
Shops and business establishments remained closed as the local government set up relief centers to accommodate people evacuated from low-lying areas.
Reports said Indian army has rescued more than 100 people in flooded areas in Puducherry. ■
