Chennai, December 6, 2023: The aftermath of Cyclone Michaung continues to pose significant challenges for residents in the worst-hit areas of Tamil Nadu, particularly in Chennai, where stagnant water, power outages, and rescue operations persist. Multiple state and central agencies are engaged in relief efforts in submerged suburbs, including Tambaram and Velachery.
Despite ongoing rescue operations, the death toll has risen to at least 20, with three more individuals found dead under the debris of a collapsed building in Chennai. The situation remains critical in several localities, with the Indian Air Force deploying helicopters to air-drop relief materials in hard-to-reach areas.
While the cyclone weakened into a deep depression and further into a well-marked pressure area, the impact has left parts of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Odisha grappling with the aftermath. Heavy rains in certain regions of Tamil Nadu on Wednesday led to concerns, but officials stated that the cyclone had weakened, and the worst was over.
India Meteorological Department (IMD) Director General, Mrityunjay Mohapatra, confirmed that Michaung had dissipated, traveling in a northward direction. However, visuals from affected areas depict the extensive damage caused by the cyclone, with inundated localities, ongoing rescue operations, and the need for continued food distribution.
Large parts of Chennai remain without power for the third consecutive day, with officials attributing the deliberate outage to prevent untoward incidents, given that many power lines are still submerged. Chief Secretary Shiv Das Meena assured that water drainage efforts, road cleaning, and the restoration of drinking water supply were underway.
Chief Minister MK Stalin has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking an interim relief grant of ₹5,060 crore and requesting a central team to assess the cyclone’s damage. Stalin highlighted the severe impact on Chennai’s infrastructure, including roads, bridges, and public buildings, impacting the livelihoods of thousands.
In Parliament, DMK member of Parliament TR Baalu urged the declaration of the floods caused by Michaung as a national calamity. Prime Minister Modi expressed condolences for the lives lost and praised the relentless efforts of authorities on the ground to assist those affected. In Andhra Pradesh, Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy directed officials to work compassionately to restore normalcy.
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