Cyclone Mandous: Chennai Airport cancels multiple flights on December 9 amid heavy rainfall warning

IMD predicts heavy rainfall and storm in areas of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Puducherry to be caused by Cyclone Mandous, leading to flight cancellations.

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Chennai Airport has announced the cancellations of multiple flights on December 9, resulting from heavy rainfall and storm caused because of Cyclone Mandous. The information was shared via the official Twitter handle of Chennai Airport. The airport authority shared the list of cancelled flights. The cancellations of flights come following IMD's warning of heavy rainfall and storm on December 9 and 10. It is to be noted that the list shared by the airport authority shows 13 cancelled flights arriving and departing from the airport.

The officials also advised the general masses to check with the concerned airlines in view of the flights affected due to the extreme weather conditions. Meanwhile, IMD also warned of traffic disruptions to be caused by heavy rainfall and localised flooding.

In view of cyclone Mandous maintaining its intensity of 'Severe Cyclonic Storm' till today's early morning hours, the National Disaster Response Force team were kept on standby in Chennai, informed officials on Friday. The officials added that the teams were ready with equipment so as to take note of any untoward incident.

#UPDATE | Kindly take note of the Flight cancellations at Chennai Intl Airport on 09.12.2022 due to adverse weather conditions forecasted. Passengers are requested to check with concerned airline(s) for further updates. #Chennai #MandousCyclone #Mandous @AAI_Official @pibchennai pic.twitter.com/o1GZhcUHzE

— Chennai (MAA) Airport (@aaichnairport) December 9, 2022

"NDRF is ready to face the Mandous Cyclone situation in Chennai. The NDRF team in Chennai Adayar Indra Nagar has been placed ready, where they have packed rescue materials to move when a tough situation arises. 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. The districts that are on the lookout include Chengalpattu, Villupuram, and Kancheepuram.

"It is very likely to maintain its intensity of Severe Cyclonic Storm till early morning of today, the 9th December, and then weaken gradually into a cyclonic storm thereafter. 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.

Cyclone will continue to move west-northwestwards and cross north Tamilnadu, Puducherry, and adjoining south Andhra Pradesh coasts b/w 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, informed officials.

"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 of all parks and playgrounds till further notice. The Greater Chennai Corporation Commissioner discussed with officials regarding precautionary measures to be taken in view of the Mandous Cyclone.