In a tragic turn of events on Tuesday, Cyclone Michaung unleashed havoc in the southern city of Chennai, resulting in the loss of eight lives.
As learned by Quest Times, the Indian Meteorological Department had predicted the cyclone’s landfall on the coast of Andhra Pradesh state, bringing with it a “severe cyclonic storm” boasting winds of up to 100 kilometers per hour.
Chennai witnessed devastating floods, submerging homes and turning streets into raging torrents where cars were seen afloat.
Amidst the chaos, a surprising sight unfolded as a crocodile navigated the flooded city streets, while desperate residents in submerged areas resorted to using boats to reach government relief shelters for safety.
Moreover, the Meteorological Department issued warnings of “exceptionally heavy rainfall” in certain regions, amplifying the severity of the situation.
Tamil Nadu state chief minister, M.K. Stalin expressed the gravity of the crisis, stating,
“We are facing the worst storm in recent memory,” in a late Monday statement.
Tragically, the toll in the state capital of Chennai stands at eight lives lost; the victims met unfortunate fates, including drowning, injuries from falling trees, electrocution from live wires in the water, while one individual was crushed by a collapsing wall.
Besides, the storm’s impact was visually evident as trees were uprooted, and vehicles swept away in the torrential rains, as shared through images on social media platforms.
In response to the escalating situation, major companies like Apple iPhone manufacturers, Foxconn and Pegatron, along with automaker Hyundai, took precautionary measures by suspending their operations in Tamil Nadu.