Cyclone Fengal-triggered heavy rains accompanied by gusty winds lashed northern Tamil Nadu and neighbouring Puducherry on Saturday.

Cyclone Fengal made its landfall in Puducherry yesterday and in a few hours, it is likely to weaken into a depression; the cyclone however has caused mass destruction and has claimed four lives in Chennai. While the Chennai Airport has resumed operations, flight ops remain affected and will gradually go back to normalcy.

The cyclone is likely to continue moving west-northwestward and cross the north Tamil Nadu-Puducherry coasts between Karaikal and Mahabalipuram, near Puducherry, as a cyclonic storm with wind speeds of 70-80 km/h, gusting to 90 km/h, during the afternoon of November 30.

Cyclone Fengal has begun making landfall near the Puducherry coast, and is expected to cross the Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coast within the next few hours, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has confirmed.

Cyclone Fengal hits Tamil Nadu, causing heavy rainfall, flooding, and disruptions in Chennai, with more rain expected.

Cyclonic storm Fengal has commenced making landfall close to Puducherry and it may approximately take 4 hours for it to cross the coast completely, an India Meteorological Department (IMD) official said.

Chennai airport on Friday announced suspension of operations till 4 am on December 1 following heavy inundation of runways and the taxiway, due to the cyclone 'Fengal' triggered rains and the 'adverse weather condition,

The airport was earlier closed from noon to 7pm on Saturday as airlines cited difficulties in landing and taking off due to heavy crosswinds.

The Chennai airport will remained closed till 4 a.m. on Sunday (December 1, 2024) due to adverse weather conditions prevailing in the city in view of Cyclone Fengal. Over 100 flights have been cancelled so far.

The cyclone is expected to bring severe weather conditions, including heavy rainfall, strong winds, and disruptions across Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.

Several airlines issued travel advisories about their schedules amid heavy rain in the region due to storm set to make landfall near Tamil Nadu.