IndiGo Suspends Flight Ops At Chennai Airport As Cyclone Fengal Nears Coast, Heavy Rains To Batter TN

Due to adverse weather conditions, IndiGo Airlines has temporarily halted all flight arrivals and departures at Chennai Airport.

In a post on X, Chennai (MAA) Airport stated, "IndiGo Airlines @IndiGo6E has temporarily suspended all arrival and departure flight operations at Chennai Airport due to adverse weather conditions. Flight operations will resume once the weather improves, prioritising the safety of passengers and crew. We recommend passengers check with their respective airlines for real-time updates."

Photo Credit: PTI

Meanwhile, the Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) in Chennai has forecast that heavy rainfall will persist on Saturday in the northern coastal districts of Tamil Nadu due to the impact of Cyclone Fengal.

The state weather department predicts isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall, with extremely heavy rain expected in one or two areas across Chennai, Tiruvallur, Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram, Villuppuram, Kallakurichi, Cuddalore districts, and Puducherry today.

According to the IMD, Cyclone Fengal, currently over the Southwest Bay of Bengal, moved west-northwestwards earlier and is expected to cross the north Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coasts later in the day.

"The Cyclonic Storm 'FENGAL' [pronounced as FEINJAL] over Southwest Bay of Bengal moved west-northwestwards at a speed of 12 kmph over the past 6 hours and is currently centred at 0530 hours IST of today, the 30th November 2024, near latitude 12.2°N and longitude 81.2°E, about 150 km east of Puducherry, 140 km southeast of Chennai, 210 km northeast of Nagappattinam, and 400 km north of Trincomalee," RMC stated.

"It is likely to move nearly westwards and cross the north Tamil Nadu-Puducherry coasts between Karaikal and Mahabalipuram, near Puducherry, as a cyclonic storm with wind speeds of 70-80 kmph, gusting up to 90 kmph, during the evening of November 30," the weather department added.

When will Cyclone Fengal make landfall?

The IMD has warned that Cyclone Fengal is expected to make landfall on the northern Tamil Nadu coast later this evening, with a red alert issued for parts of southern India, including the coasts of southern Andhra Pradesh.

As the cyclone approaches, coastal areas have been experiencing gusty winds and rainfall. Chennai has witnessed continuous heavy to moderate rainfall since last night, resulting in rough sea conditions and strong winds. In response, local authorities have advised the public to avoid visiting beaches in the city, including Marina Beach, Pattinapakkam, and Edward Elliot Beach. Tourist spots in Puducherry have also been closed for safety reasons.

Puducherry experienced moderate rainfall this morning, according to the IMD, but sea conditions were rougher than usual. SSP Kalaivanan assured that the government and police are fully prepared to manage Cyclone Fengal, with restrictions on public visits to coastal areas.

Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu's Ranipet district and nearby areas have been receiving moderate rainfall since last night, accompanied by cold winds. Walajapet and surrounding areas have seen continuous rainfall.

In response to the IMD's warnings of heavy rainfall, a holiday has been declared for schools and colleges in nine districts. Additionally, the Kanchipuram district administration announced a holiday for both public and private educational institutions on November 30.