Cyclone Mandous highlights: No large scale damage due to storm, says Tamil Nadu CM Stalin

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy held a review meeting with officials concerned on the cyclone-related rains. He instructed the collectors of SPSR Nellore, Tirupati, Chittoor and Annamayya districts to be on alert and open relief camps wherever there is a need. Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy also directed the officials to ensure people would not venture out in those areas where heavy rains are expected.

According to a status report of the Andhra Pradesh government, Naidupeta in Tirupati district received the highest rainfall at 281.5 mm during the past 24 hours ending at 8.30 am on Saturday.

Heavy rains lashed several parts of south coastal and Rayalaseema districts of Andhra Pradesh early on Saturday after cyclonic storm Mandous made landfall off Mamallapuram in neighbouring Tamil Nadu.

Complaints of overnight power cut are pouring in on social media and residents of power supply yet to be restored in many parts of the city.

Between 6 am on Friday and 6 am today, a total of 30 domestic and international flights were cancelled as airport operations were affected due to cyclone Mandous. The airport runway was briefly closed in the early hours today. Besides, nine outbound flights were cancelled while 21 incoming airplanes were diverted to other cities today.

Amidst complaints of overnight power cuts in many parts of the city as Mandous cyclone made the landfall, electricity minister V Senthilbalaji said that the power supply will be restored before noon. The minister said that the power interruptions were reported in only 10 substations and added that electricity supply were cut in 622 feeders as a precautionary measure due to speedy winds, without specifying the areas. 

According to Chennai police, nearly 100 trees fell in different parts of the metro and 52 have been removed in coordination with its personnel. Power poles fell down in five locations and three had been cleared. Vehicular traffic, which has been suspended on the Kamarajar Salai off the Marina, has been resumed, police said. Sub-ways did not suffer waterlogging.

Tamil Nadu Revenue and Disaster Management Minister KKSSR Ramachandran, citing initial estimates, said there was no major damage as expected.

Over 9,000 persons have been lodged in 205 relief centres, he added

Civic agencies, including the Greater Chennai Corporation here were involved in removing the fallen trees. Power remained suspended in many parts of the city and the surroundings.

"The cyclonic storm Mandous (meaning treasure box) weakened into a deep depression over north Tamil Nadu coast. To move nearly west-northwestwards and gradually weaken into a depression by noon of 10th december," the IMD Chennai said.

A wall collapsed in T Nagar area of Chennai and caused serious damage to three cars that were parked near it. Nobody was present in the cars at the time of the incident.

Cyclone Mandous crossed the Tamil Nadu coast and is in deep depression and its strength is weakening. It is moving towards the Northwest direction so areas in northwest districts will witness strong winds of 55-65 kmph which will further decrease by evening to 30-40 kmph.

Tamil Nadu Rainfall data (in mm) till 05.30 of 10 December

Observatories:

Chennai Nungambakkam- 111.3

Chennai Meenambakkam- 115.1

Puducherry- 29

Karaikal- 5

Cuddalore- 22

Nagapattinam- 5

Salem- 2

Madurai AP- 0.5

Kanyakumari- 0.4

Kodaikanal- 55

Adiramapattinam- 0.1

Vellore- 3.0Erode- 1.0

Karur Paramathy- 5.0

Parangipettai- 7.0

Coimbatore Airport- 3.0

Dharmapuri- 2.0

"Cyclone Mandous crossed the coast and is in deep depression and its strength is weakening. It is moving towards the Northwest direction so areas in northwest districts will witness strong winds of 55-65 kmph which will further decrease by evening to 30-40 kmph," S Balachandran, DDGM, RMC Chennai said. 

Cyclonic storm 'Mandous' affected MMDA Colony of Arumbakkam as waterlogging seen in low-lying areas due to heavy rainfall.

The wooden ramp for disabled at the Marina Beach, inaugurated two weeks ago, was damaged and dislocated by heavy waves in the wee hours of Friday. The civic body had set up the 263-metre-long ramp at a cost of ₹1. 15 crore using Brazilian wood and it was punched into the mud using bolts, Times of India reported.