Cyclone Fengal made landfall near the coast of Puducherry on Saturday, bringing heavy rains and strong winds to northern Tamil Nadu and the Union Territory. The storm caused significant disruptions, including the shutdown of Chennai airport, widespread flooding in the city, and the cancellation of numerous flights and train services.

Ahead of the cyclone’s landfall, the rains and gusty winds triggered flight and train cancellations in Chennai. Several hospitals and residential areas were inundated, and schools and colleges across several districts in Tamil Nadu were closed. In preparation for the storm, hundreds of people in vulnerable areas were evacuated to storm shelters.

In Puducherry, the administration issued SMS alerts to residents in low-lying areas, advising them to take precautions and prepare for the cyclone’s impact. Barricades were set up in Chennai to prevent access to popular beaches like Marina and Mamallapuram.

The cyclone also caused significant disruptions to transportation. Operations at Chennai airport were suspended until 4 am on Sunday due to flooding in parts of the terminal. In addition, 20 flights to and from Hyderabad were cancelled, including those to Chennai and Tirupati. Train services in Chennai were affected as well, with the Southern Railway announcing service changes.

In a tragic rain-related incident, a migrant worker in Chennai was electrocuted while attempting to withdraw cash from an ATM. Authorities have warned fishermen to stay off the water as surging waves of up to one meter (three feet) pose a flood risk to low-lying coastal areas.

Earlier this week, Cyclone Fengal passed by Sri Lanka, causing significant damage and killing at least 12 people, including six children.