Twelve people died in the downpour before Tropical Storm Michaung made landfall along India’s southeast coast, bringing further torrential rains and strong winds, officials said. The storm entered Andhra Pradesh state with maximum sustained winds of 90-100 kph (56-62 mph) and gusts up to 110 kph (68 mph), the Indian Meteorological Department said, adding that the storm would weaken over the next few hours.
Quick Read
- Tropical Storm Michaung’s Impact: Twelve people died due to heavy rains before Tropical Storm Michaung hit India’s southeast coast, bringing intense rainfall and strong winds.
- Storm’s Landfall in Andhra Pradesh: Michaung made landfall in Andhra Pradesh with winds between 90-100 kph (56-62 mph) and gusts up to 110 kph (68 mph), expected to weaken over the next few hours.
- High Alert for Heavy Showers: Authorities remain on high alert for continuous heavy rainfall in the region over the next 24 hours.
- Pre-Storm Rains in Tamil Nadu: Tamil Nadu experienced heavy rains before the storm, resulting in accidents and 12 deaths in various districts.
- Chennai’s Flooding Situation: Chennai, Tamil Nadu’s capital, witnessed severe flooding, with walls collapsing, trees uprooting, and roads and vehicles submerged. The city’s airport temporarily closed due to water inundation.
- Odisha Affected by Rains: Odisha also faced heavy rains, though no immediate reports of deaths or severe damage were reported.
- Evacuations and School Closures: In Andhra Pradesh’s Ongole district, where the storm landed, over 9,000 people were evacuated, and schools were closed.
- Severe Rainfall Recorded: Parts of Andhra Pradesh received up to 390 millimeters (15.4 inches) of rain, causing uprooted trees and crop damage.
- Continued Rain Predictions: The Indian Meteorological Department forecasts ongoing rain over the next few days, classifying Michaung as a Severe Cyclonic Storm.
- Relief Efforts in Tamil Nadu: Thousands of relief camps were set up, with rescue teams deployed to evacuate people stranded in flooded areas. A public holiday was declared in storm-affected districts.
- Earlier Cyclone Biparjoy: In June, Cyclone Biparjoy affected western India and southern Pakistan, leading to over 100,000 people being moved to shelters.
- India’s Increasing Cyclone Intensity: Climate change is causing cyclones to become more intense on India’s coasts, emphasizing the need for more robust natural disaster preparations.
The Associated Press has the story:
India: Heavy rains left at least 12 dead as Storm Michaung made landfall on SE. coast
Newslooks- HYDERABAD, India (AP)
Twelve people died in the downpour before Tropical Storm Michaung made landfall along India’s southeast coast, bringing further torrential rains and strong winds, officials said.
The storm entered Andhra Pradesh state with maximum sustained winds of 90-100 kph (56-62 mph) and gusts up to 110 kph (68 mph), the Indian Meteorological Department said, adding that the storm would weaken over the next few hours.
Authorities were on high alert for heavy showers over the next 24 hours.
Another state in the south, Tamil Nadu, experienced days of heavy rains ahead of the storm. Downpours triggered accidents that led to at least 12 deaths across vulnerable districts, officials told the Press Trust of India news agency.
In Tamil Nadu’s capital city of Chennai, rain from the storm’s outer reaches caused walls to collapse, uprooted trees and submerged roads and cars in knee-deep waters.
Videos showed water streaming onto the city’s airport tarmac, forcing authorities to temporarily shut it down and cancel flights. The downpours have since begun to recede, and the airport has reopened, but many parts of the city remained flooded.
Rains also pounded parts of Odisha state in the east, but there were no immediate reports of deaths or severe damage.
In Andhra Pradesh, where the storm made landfall near Ongole district, officials shut down schools and evacuated more than 9,000 people from coastal and low-lying areas.
Parts of the state saw as much as 390 millimeters (15.4 inches) of rain Tuesday morning before the storm closed in, putting officials on high alert as winds uprooted trees and damaged crops.
India’s Meteorological Department said rains could continue over the next few days. Michaung is listed as a Severe Cyclonic Storm in the department’s cyclone classification system due to its wind speed.
In Tamil Nadu, authorities set up thousands of relief camps in coastal areas. Teams of the National Disaster Response Force and other agencies sent rescuers with boats to evacuate hundreds of people stranded on roads and inside flooded homes. Officials, who declared a public holiday in districts affected by the storm, urged residents to stay indoors.
In June, rain pelted the shores of western India and southern Pakistan as Cyclone Biparjoy pushed into the coast, prompting both countries to move more than 100,000 people to shelters.
India’s coasts are no stranger to cyclones, but changing climate patterns have caused them to become more intense, making preparations for natural disasters more urgent.
