Cyclone Michaung Strikes Southern India Coast
Nadia Nawaz
Cyclone Michaung wreaked havoc on the southern coast of India , leaving a trail
of destruction in its wake.
The cyclone, with winds reaching up to
110 kilometers per hour, made landfall in the state of Andhra Pradesh near the
town of Bapatla.
The Indian Meteorological Department,
in a social media update on,that the landfall process is ongoing and is expected
to complete in the next three hours.
Rising Toll and Evacuations
As the cyclone battered the region, torrential rains led to towering waves
crashing into coastal towns, submerging roads, and claiming the lives of at
least nine people, including a child.
The state of Andhra Pradesh is bracing for
more challenges, with forecasts predicting over 200 millimeters of rain in the
next 24 hours.
In response to the looming crisis, over 8,000
people have been evacuated from vulnerable areas.
Tragically, a four-year-old boy lost his life
in Tirupati district when a wall collapsed, adding to the growing toll.
In neighboring Tamil Nadu, eight more people
fell victim to the cyclone's fury.
Chennai's Struggle and Economic Impact
The capital city of Tamil Nadu, Chennai, a significant electronics and
manufacturing hub, faced severe consequences as residents navigated waist-deep
floodwaters.
The city witnessed the inundation of
roads, the submersion of a runway, and the shutdown of one of India's busiest
airports until Tuesday morning.
Chennai's airport, however, has
resumed operations after water receded, providing a sigh of relief.
The cyclone's impact extended beyond the
immediate human toll, disrupting power lines, uprooting trees, and causing the
cancellation of over 140 trains and 40 flights in Andhra Pradesh. Additionally,
Taiwan's Foxconn and Pegatron halted Apple iPhone production near Chennai due
to the adverse weather conditions.
