Cyclone Mandous landfall triggers heavy rainfall in Tamil Nadu; several flights cancelled, NDRF on standby

Cyclone Mandous: Cyclone Mandous began its landfall in Tamil Nadu as heavy rains with strong winds were witnessed in Pattinapakkam area of Chennai on Friday. In view of cyclone Mandous maintaining its intensity of 'Severe Cyclonic Storm' till the early morning hours today, the National Disaster Response Force team were kept on standby in Chennai, informed officials on Friday. Once the alert from state officials is communicated NDRF team will move immediately to the needed spot," said Sub-Inspector NDRF, Sandeep Kumar.The NDRF officials also added that numerous pieces of equipment like boats, High voltage motors, Sucker machines, Cutter machines etc were kept ready for rescue operations.The preparations came in the wake of the Mandous Cyclone's likeliness to become severe and gather more intensity.Earlier three districts of Tamil Nadu were given a red alert, informed officials. It would continue to move west-northwestwards and cross north Tamilnadu, Puducherry and adjoining south Andhra Pradesh coasts between Puducherry and Sriharikota around Mahabalipuram as a cyclonic storm with a maximum sustained wind speed of 65-75 kmph gusting to 85 kmph during midnight of today, the 09th December to early hours of 10th December," read an official statement by India Meteorological Department.The officials also informed that under the cyclone's influence most places over the north coastal Tamil Nadu and Puducherry are likely to have heavy to very heavy rainfall and extremely heavy rainfall at isolated places. "It is likely to reduce to Light to moderate rainfall at most places with heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places likely over north Tamil Nadu on 10th December 2022," added the statement.Earlier, the Greater Chennai Corporation issued precautionary measures and ordered to close all parks and playgrounds till further notice.The Greater Chennai Corporation Commissioner had a discussion with officials regarding precautionary measures to be taken in view Mandous Cyclone.