Chennai: Heavy rains with strong winds were experienced in Puducherry on Friday (December 9) as cyclone Mandous is expected to cross Puducherry and Sriharikota on Saturday at midnight or morning. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) had predicted that the maximum wind speed would cross up to 85 kmph because of the ‘Mandous Cyclone’ and issued a red alert. The three states given red alerts are Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Andhra Pradesh. Doppler Weather Radar Karaikal and Chennai are monitoring the cyclone. The IMD today said that the landfall process of Cyclone Mandous had been completed. Cyclonic Mandous made landfall off Mamallapuram on Friday evening influencing moderate to heavy rainfall in coastal Tamil Nadu.


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Mandous is all set to weaken, following the landfall, to a deep depression on Saturday (December 10). "Cyclone Mandous rear sector has moved into the land and the landfall process has been completed. It is very likely to move nearly west-northwestward and gradually weaken into a deep depression during next 2 hours and into a depression by noon of 10th December," IMD said in a tweet at 4:48 am. 


Also read: Cyclone Mandous IMD Alert: 'DARE NOT try this during LANDFALL', Chennai Municipal Corporation issues BIG warning


After Cyclone Mandous made landfall off Mamallapuram, several parts of Chennai are facing heavy rainfall and strong winds. S Balachandran, DDGM, RMC Chennai, said "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." 



The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) requested people to avoid going out until Cyclone Mandous weakens. It said almost 65 trees fell in three hours and motor pumps are being used to remove water stagnation in low-lying areas. Notably, National Disaster Response Force personnel are on standby. Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Friday said that all the precautionary measures have been taken in view of Cyclone Mandous. 


"The government has taken all the precautionary measures and the officers are regularly monitoring the situation," said Stalin. Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin visited and inspected the state emergency operation centre, Chepauk amid the cyclone’s severity. He said that the monitoring of the cyclone has also been deployed district-wise. 


"Whatever the situation may be, the Government will ensure the protection of the people. District wise the monitoring of the cyclone has also been deployed," said Stalin. Stalin urged the people to follow the orders of the government and cooperate with the government. Meanwhile, Dindigul Collector has declared a holiday for schools and colleges in Sirumalai and Kodaikanal for Saturday. 


(With inputs from ANI)