Cyclone Mandous UPDATES: The KVB Puram Mandal in Andhra Pradesh's Tirupati district today (December 10) recorded the highest rainfall at 258mm due to Tropical Cyclone Mandous currently active in the Bay of Bengal region, said official sources. As per sources, the way from KVB Puram Mandal, under the Satyavedu constituency, towards the Srikalahasti is completely blocked due to heavy water flow from nearby ponds and lakes.
Speaking about the obstacle that the water has created, Mandal Revenue Officer (MRO) Dwarkanath Reddy said, "We are monitoring the situation in the Mandal, and we are taking action together with the officials of all the relevant departments..."
"In many areas, traffic was interrupted by waterlogging. We have placed traffic diversions," he added. Along with Andhra Pradesh, Chennai and several other parts of Tamil Nadu, have witnessed heavy rain and strong winds as cyclonic storm Mandous crossed the states on Saturday after landfall, as per the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
On Friday, Devotees visiting Tirupati Venkateswara Temple in Tirumala faced several problems ranging from hampered darshan to difficulty in reaching hotels as heavy rain battered the city under the influence of Cyclone Mandous. As per reports, the low-lying areas of Tirumala, including the temple premises, witnessed waterlogging making it difficult for the devotees, including elderly and disabled persons, to commute from their accommodated hotels.
Earlier, over 10 flights were cancelled at Chennai airport due to adverse weather conditions arising due to cyclone Mandous.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.Mandous is all set to weaken to a deep depression and later a depression on Saturday, as per the regional Met office.
The rainfall triggered by the cyclone has caused severe waterlogging in low-lying areas.In view of Cyclone Mandous maintaining its intensity of 'Severe Cyclonic Storm' till the early morning hours today, 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.Heavy rains with strong winds were also experienced in Puducherry on Friday. Red alerts were sounded in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Andhra Pradesh. Doppler Weather Radar Karaikal and Chennai are monitoring the cyclone.
Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin distributed relief material:
Four people have died across Tamil Nadu after Cyclone Mandous made landfall off Mamallapuram causing heavy rainfall in Chennai and coastal areas of the state.Chief minister M K Stalin on Saturday said "So far, four human fatalities, deaths of 98 cattle and damage to 181 residences had been reported. Other details were being collected."
Cyclone Mandous made landfall late Friday night, crossing the coast with a wind speed of 75 km an hour. The cyclone has now weakened into a deep depression according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
"I inspected the affected areas. Corporation workers have worked very well. 4 people have lost their lives in this heavy rainfall. 98 cattle died too. 151 houses and huts got damaged, other damages are being calculated. In Chennai 400 trees uprooted," chief minister Stalin told mediapersons in Chennai.
Earlier today, Stalin also distributed flood relief material and food among Cyclone Mandous-affected people in the Kasimedu area of Chennai.
Several areas in Chennai saw waterlogging and squally winds uprooting trees in the state capital and the nearby Chengalpattu district. The rainfall triggered by the cyclone has caused severe waterlogging in low-lying areas. Roads in the MMDA Colony in Arumbakkam here were submerged. A video showed a large tree uprooted in Egmore, damaging a petrol bunk nearby.
The IMD said it has crossed the Mamallapuram coast and weakened after completing its landfall process late Friday. A wall collapsed in T Nagar area of Chennai and caused severe damage to three cars that were parked near it. Nobody was present inside the vehicles at the time of the incident.
Traffic disrupted in Andhra's Venkatagiri-Gudur highway in Nellore:
Traffic movement on the Venkatagiri-Gudur state highway number 58 in Andhra Pradesh was interrupted on Saturday due to water logging as a result of the Mandous cyclone, said sources. The traffic disruptions took place near Balayapalli village where water from several nearby ponds filled the highway. A long queue of vehicles were seen crawling along the highway.
Mandal Revenue Officer (MRO) of the area, Srinivas said, "Mandous cyclone passed the coast around 1.30 am due to which the Venkatagiri-Gudur state highway was waterlogged."As per the orders of the District Collector, all preventive measures were taken."Issuing a warning to commuters, he said, "We advise travellers to postpone their journey for next six hours on the highway."
About the steps being taken by the district administration, he informed, "All staff needed are on the job. Water levels are being monitored. After the clearance of water, traffic would be allowed on the highway."Chennai and several other parts of Tamil Nadu along with Andhra Pradesh have witnessed heavy rain and strong winds as cyclonic storm Mandous crossed the states on Saturday after landfall, as per the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
Heavy rains witnessed in southern Andhra Pradesh:
Heavy rains lashed several parts of south coastal and Rayalaseema districts of Andhra Pradesh early on Saturday after cyclonic storm Mandous made landfall off Mamallapuram in neighbouring Tamil Nadu. According to a status report of the AP government, Naidupeta in Tirupati district received the highest rainfall at 281.5 mm during the past 24 hours ending at 8.30 am on Saturday.
A senior official of the State Disaster Management Authority told PTI that the intensity of the rains has come down as of now at 8.30 am. Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy held a review meeting with officials concerned on the cyclone-related rains. He instructed the collectors of SPSR Nellore, Tirupati, Chittoor and Annamayya districts to be on alert and open relief camps wherever there is a need.
Reddy also directed the officials to ensure people would not venture out in those areas where heavy rains are expected. As a precautionary measure, the state government shifted 190 people to 28 relief camps in Tirupati district. SPSR Nellore and Tirupati districts were placed on alert due to possibility of flash floods in the minor rivers Kandaleru, Maneru and Swarnamuki, according to a government report.
The list of vulnerable mandals and villages has been sent to the districts for taking necessary precautionary measures, the report said. As many as 150 SDRF and 95 NDRF personnel have been deployed in four districts to be pressed into service in case of any eventuality. Cyclone alert messages have been sent through common alert protocol (CAP) to as many as 89 lakh subscribers spread across the six districts which are likely to be affected due to heavy rains during December 8-10, according to official information.
Rains, cloudy skies in Bengaluru & neighbouring districts:Bengaluru is likely to witness light to moderate rains and cloudy skies until Sunday, due to the effect of cyclone Mandous, which crossed the coast in neighbouring Tamil Nadu. The city has been witnessing light to moderate rains since this morning.
"Generally cloudy sky. Light to moderate rain is very likely. Surface winds are likely to be strong at times. Mist is very likely during early morning hours in some areas. Maximum and minimum temperatures very likely to be around 24 and 19 Degrees Celsius respectively," India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast for the next 48 hours, issued earlier on Saturday said.
According to the Met department, rainfall occurred at a few places over South Interior Karnataka and at isolated places over Coastal and North Interior Karnataka. Forecasting light to moderate rain is very likely to occur at most places over South Interior Karnataka and at a few places over Coastal and North Interior Karnataka during the next 24 hours, a release said, heavy to very heavy rain very likely to occur at isolated places over Bengaluru Rural, Chitradurga, Mandya, Ramanagara and Tumkur districts.
Also, heavy rain is likely to occur at isolated places over Bengaluru Urban, Chamarajanagara, Chikkaballapura, Mysuru, Kolar, Kodagu, Chikamagalur and Hassan districts, it added. Cyclonic storm Mandous crossed the coast at Mamallapuram in Tamil Nadu in the intervening night of December 9 and 10.
(With agencies inputs)
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