HIGHLIGHTS: Cyclone Fengal reaches coast, makes landfall near Puducherry
Public helpline numbers issued for emergency services in Chennai
Chennai residents facing rain-related issues can contact the following helplines for assistance:
1. State Assistance Number: 1070
2. District Assistance Number: 1077
3. WhatsApp for Assistance: 9445869848
Emergency contact numbers:
- Chennai Corporation: 1913
- Electricity Services: 94987 94987
- Drinking Water Supply: 044-4567 4567
- Snake Rescue Team: 044-2220 0335
- Chennai Metro Rail: 1860 425 1515
- Blue Cross: 9677297978, 9841588852, 9176160685
- Women's Helpline: 181
- Childline: 1098
Read full story here: Public helpline numbers issued for emergency services in Chennai
Theatres closed in Chennai today
Due to heavy rains and waterlogging in many parts of the city, theatres will remain closed on Saturday
Heavy rain causes flooding in Chennai’s Triplicane area, inundating Dr Besant Road
Chennai International Airport has been temporarily closed
Chennai International Airport has been temporarily closed due to severe weather conditions due to ongoing heavy rains and the approaching Cyclone Fengal, which have made it unsafe for planes to land.
Read more here: Cyclone Fengal: Chennai Airport runway closed until 5 pm
Major flight disruptions in Chennai
* More than 30 outbound flights from Chennai have been delayed
* More than 10 other planes, including those from Singapore, Dubai, Delhi, Kozhikode, and Hyderabad, have been forced to circle the airport due to poor weather conditions
* Officials are taking action to reroute these flights to airports in Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Tiruchy
Read more here: Cyclone Fengal disrupts Chennai airport operations, causes major flight delays
Independent weather blogger K Srikanth says
"Cyclone Fengal is now 125 kms SE of Chennai and has slowed down over the past couple of hours. While city areas of Chennai see a reduction in rainfall intensity. Suburbs and Kanchipuram, Tiruvallur, Chengalpattu, Ranipet dts will continue to see rains."
Due to the cyclone and heavy rain alert, the Madras Jewellers & Diamond Merchants' Association has announced that all jewellery shops in Chennai and its suburban areas will remain closed on Saturday
12 subways in Chennai report water stagnation but none closed, says GCC update at 9.58 am
The subways that have reported water stagnation are:
Kathivakkam High road, Manickam Nagar Subway, Vyasarpadi Subway, Stanley Nagar Subway, Gunguruddy Subway, Perambur High Road Subway, Villivakkam Subway, Nungambakkam Subway, Duralsamy Subway, Rangarajapuram Subway (2 wheeler), Pazhavanthangal Subway, Aranganathan Subway
EMU train services in all suburban sections in Chennai Division will operate at reduced frequency intervals until further notice on Saturday due to the rains