Focus On Relief And Rescue As Cyclone Michaung Makes Landfall, Leaves A Trail Of Death, Destruction Behind

Relief and rescue operations have been intensified in both Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh after Cyclone Michaung made landfall on the Bapatla coast on Tuesday afternoon.

The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), which is leading the relief and rescue operations in both the worst-affected states along with Telangana and Puducherry, has deployed a total of 29 teams.

NDRF

How NDRF is leading cyclone relief

Fourteen NDRF teams have been deployed in Tamil Nadu (five in Chennai), 11 in Andhra Pradesh, one in Telangana and three in Puducherry.

"Our focus is on Andhra Pradesh as the cyclone will make landfall there, and a number of trees, poles and other infrastructure could be uprooted, leading to blockage of communication and power lines," the officer said.

NDRF

The NDRF is also prepared to launch rescue and relief operations for the affected people who could be stranded, he said.

The teams, armed with wood and pole cutters along with inflatable boats, are already undertaking route-clearing operations in various parts of Tamil Nadu, where the cyclone wreaked havoc on Tuesday morning, the officer said.

Some additional teams have been kept on standby, and they will be moved into the affected areas as and when the requisition is made by the state governments, another NDRF officer said.

#NDRF4U Rescue ? - OPS-#rescue_Urban flood
#ChennaiFlood @HMOIndia @CMOTamilnadu @tnsdma @chennaicorp @Chengalpattu01 @pibchennai @CBCCHENNAI_MIB@ANI pic.twitter.com/klhnOPiABk

¡ª 4 NDRF ARAKKONAM (@04NDRF) December 5, 2023

Why Chennai is the worst-hit

Though Cyclone Michaung made landfall in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, especially the capital, Chennai, has been the worst hit due to extremely heavy rains that have thrown normal life out of gear.

A dozen people lost their lives in various rain-related incidents in and around Chennai on Tuesday. At the same time, rescue personnel on fishing boats and farm tractors were engaged in helping those stranded.

BCCL

According to PR Natarajan, the Lok Sabha MP from Coimbatore, the cyclone has caused "so much damage in the southern parts, including Chennai, and some other districts as well".

"It is the biggest cyclone in 40 years. Our demand is that the Central government immediately send a team to assess the damage," Natarajan said.

According to IMD data, the 24-hour rains in many parts of Chennai were more than what the city had received in 2015 when it hit the worst flooding in history.

How Andhra Pradesh has been affected

In Andhra, too, Cyclone Michaung brought record rains on Tuesday.

BCCL

"It's the highest rainfall recorded in Nellore, near about 21 highest rainfall in Babatla and 15 cm in Machilipatnam. Many areas recorded heavy to very heavy and even extreme heavy rainfall was also received. Still, in south-coastal Andhra Pradesh, these rainfall bands are there," Sunanda, the IMD Regional Director, said.

What happened to Cyclone Michaung after landfall

According to IMD's latest bulletin, after the landfall, the severe cyclonic storm Michaung moved northwards with a speed of 10 kilometres per hour during the past 6 hours and is now crossing the coast with a windspeed of 90-100 kilometres per hour, gusting to 110 kilometres per hour.

The weather system is likely to move northwards and weaken into a cyclonic storm.

For more on the news, sports, and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News.