Cyclone Michaung weakens, transforms into deep depression over central coastal Andhra Pradesh
New Delhi, December 06: Cyclone Michaung, after its forceful arrival, has now subsided into a deep depression over central coastal Andhra Pradesh, as confirmed by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Wednesday.
The IMD's official social media post stated, "Cyclonic Storm 'MICHAUNG' weakened into a Deep Depression over Central Coastal AP. About 100 km north-northwest of Bapatla and 50 km southeast of Khammam. To weaken further into a Depression in next 06 hours and further into a WML during subsequent 06 hours."
While the cyclone unleashed its fury during the landfall on Tuesday, Chennai experienced relentless rainfall, though the intensity had considerably diminished compared to Monday. The heavy rains and subsequent flooding brought the state capital to a halt, disrupting daily life and causing tragic losses of lives and property damage.
The Greater Chennai police, in a release dated December 5, reported 17 casualties due to flood-related incidents triggered by the cyclone. Among these casualties, 10 incidents involved drowning and electrocution, with immediate medical aid provided to those affected.
Reflecting on the situation, DMK MP Kanimozhi highlighted the state government's improved readiness compared to the devastating floods of 2015. Despite experiencing over 33 cm of rainfall in the past two days, surpassing the 2015 levels, the government's proactive measures were evident.
Kanimozhi mentioned, "In the last two days, we had more than 33 cm of rainfall, which is much more than what we had in 2015. However, the government was better equipped to deal with the situation this time. Many people have been evacuated (from low-lying areas) and moved to (relief) shelters."
She further detailed that 411 relief shelters were arranged promptly, drainage efforts were underway, and power had been restored to a significant percentage of affected households, showcasing a concerted effort to mitigate the cyclone's impact.
- With inputs from agencies
