No power, no food: How Andhra, Tamil Nadu are reeling from Cyclone Michaung

Life was thrown out of gear on the southern Indian coast on Tuesday with intense winds, and subsequent torrential rains and flooding. Cyclone Michaung made landfall near the beach town of Bapatla in Andhra Pradesh state with winds of up to 70 mph that later dropped slightly as the ‘severe’ category cyclone weakened, the Indian weather office said. Further weakening is forecast in the next six hours. Weather agencies have predicted harsh weather conditions in Andhra Pradesh and neighbouring cities till Thursday. High-speed winds, heavy rainfall and waterlogging Tall waves crashed into southern coastal towns over the last two days as the cyclone approached, submerging entire villages and halting all transportation as more than 390,000 people felt its impact, authorities said. Before its landfall, at many places in the coastal districts of southern Andhra Pradesh, Michaung left a trail of inundation, eroded roads, overflowing canals, swollen streams and ponds, including submerging thousands of acres of fields of crops in the agrarian state. High-velocity winds continued till Tuesday night in most parts of the Bapatla district, Chebrolu, Ponnur, Gopapuram and other places, forcing people to remain indoors. A large number of fishing families were relocated to cyclone shelters and relief camps, according to The Hindu. Heavy rains also lashed Tamil Nadu’s Chennai for several days. The subsequent floods brought the state capital to a standstill. [caption id=“attachment_13469492” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] Cyclone Michaung makes landfall on the Andhra coast. PTI.[/caption] After tall waves crashed into southern coasts, villages were submerged and transportation services were affected, impacting lives of around 390,000 people. Trees were uprooted, thousands of residential and commercial buildings, cars and other vehicles remained under water. According to The Times of India, while more than 61,000 people have been accommodated at government-run centres, numerous families checked into serviced apartments and budget hotels due to the shortage of water, essentials and electricity. The fishing community in Chennai has been particularly badly affected, with 1,200 fishing boats completely or partially damaged and some even missing. Many lives lost Cyclone Michaung barrelled into the southern Indian coast on Tuesday with intense winds, its arrival preceded by torrential rains and flooding that killed at least 13 people, as officials assessed the damage. The 13 people killed include a 4-year-old boy who died after a wall collapsed, authorities said. More than 140 trains and 40 flights were cancelled in the state, according to Reuters. No food, electricity and communication As Cyclone Michaung made landfall in Andhra Pradesh’s Bapatla district, power connection was disrupted, plunging the entire district into darkness. Communication was also cut off to the district as there was no mobile network due to the storm. Parts of Chennai could sense the cyclone’s fury through the damages caused. Numerous regions faced power outages, adding to residents’ woes. Communication also suffered significant disruptions, hindering rescue efforts. [caption id=“attachment_13466232” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] Roads in Chennai have been waterlogged since Sunday owing to the torrential rainfall caused by Cyclone Michaung. Authorities state that the city has 400 to 500 mm of rain since Sunday morning. This is way more than the 330 mm of rain that the city had received in the 2015 deluge. PTI[/caption] Numerous locals said that they haven’t had internet access or electricity for the past 72 hours. Electronics and other belongings suffered significant damage as a result of the water getting into their homes, as per Indian Express. Supply of essential items like milk, drinking water and petrol was affected in Chennai and other districts, allowing retailers to sell them at excess price. According to TOI, government-owned Aavin’s dairy plant in Ambattur, which usually supplies five lakh litres of milk, also submerged entirely which affected supply in the capital city. Efforts were made to source milk from the neighbouring districts. Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary Shiv Das Meena said on Tuesday evening that 80 per cent of power supply and 70 per cent of mobile networks have already been restored, as per PTI. Flights and rail services cancelled The rain also led to the cancellation of around 300 fights, with the Chennai airport shutting down its airfield. Air services that were suspended on Monday, partially resumed on Tuesday with domestic and international flights landing and taking off albeit with delays reported on some sectors. The Southern Railway also cancelled several long-distance trains on Monday. Rescue and relief efforts on Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy held a review meeting to take stock of the severe cyclonic storm on Tuesday and assessed its impact and relief measures. The CM instructed officials to efficiently distribute food rations deploying the ward and village volunteer system. He sanctioned Rs 22 crore for immediate relief efforts. The state government set up helplines in the affected districts: Bapatla (8712655881), Guntur (0863   2234014), Krishna (08672   25272), NTR (0866   2575833), Chittoor (9491077356), Kadapa (08672   23272), Visakhapatnam (0891   2590100) and Tirupati (0877   2236007), among others. [caption id=“attachment_13471312” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] NDRF personnel evacuate residents from a waterlogged area after heavy rainfall owing to Cyclone Michaung, in Kanchipuram. PTI[/caption] Departmental helplines include Police (100, 112) and Fisheries (9390125477). In Anakapalli district, 52 rehabilitation centres have been set up and arrangements made to accommodate more than 60,000 people. Several District Disaster Response Teams (DDRT) were formed to carry out relief work in all rain-affected areas across Chennai. The Air Force Station, Tambaram and the Navy joined the rescue and rehabilitation works. Two helicopters were pressed in for service in rain affected areas while Navy’s divers, swimmers and inflatable boats ventured into the operation. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin said on Tuesday morning that across the nine affected districts, including Chennai, a total of 61,666 relief camps were established. Approximately 11 lakh food packets and one lakh milk packets have been distributed so far, he said. The Chennai Corporation has brought in 5000 workers from other districts for flood mitigation works in the city. These workers utilised farm tractors and fishing boats in flooded areas for rescue operations and distributing relief materials. Bollywood actor Aamir Khan and South star Vishnu Vishal were also among those rescued by the Chennai Fire Service personnel. CM Stalin on Tuesday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to release Rs 5,060 crore to take up relief measures in the cyclone-battered state. He also requested a visit by a team of the Union government to assess the affected areas. Telangana also on alert The Congress’ Telangana unit chief A Revanth Reddy, who is set to take oath as chief minister on 7 December, asked officials to be on alert in view of the IMD’s warnings on the potential impact of the cyclone on various districts. Taking to X, Reddy said officials should take measures to see that paddy crop is not damaged and people living in low-lying areas do not face trouble. “Officials should be alert in view of the IMD’s warnings on the impact of the cyclone on various districts in Telangana. Precautions should be taken to see that paddy is not damaged,” he said in the post. “(The officials) should see that daily life is not troubled in agency and low-lying areas. [They should] be ready to take up the necessary relief measures,” he added. Appropriate measures should be taken in accordance with the protocols to be followed in case of heavy rains and floods, Telangana’s Chief Secretary Santhi Kumari said, adding that National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams are being sent to Bhadradri-Kothagudem and Mulugu districts.