Hundreds of trains and flights were canceled due to heavy rain in Chennai due to storm ‘Michong’, crocodiles roaming on the road

Cyclone ‘Michong’ continues to wreak havoc from Andhra Pradesh to Tamil Nadu. 8 people have died in Chennai due to cyclonic storm Michong that arose from the Bay of Bengal on December 1. Heavy rains have been continuing in Chennai since Monday, resulting in a flood-like situation. Due to Michong, passenger movement in both trains and flights from Hyderabad to southern parts of the country was disrupted. Hundreds of passengers were stranded for hours at the Hyderabad airport and railway stations across the city on Monday after several trains and flights were canceled due to bad weather.

Trains like Hyderabad-Tambaram Charminar Express, Lingampalli-Tirupati Narayanadri Express, Secunderabad-Gudur Simhapuri Express and Secunderabad-Trivandrum Sabari Express were cancelled. Domestic flights from Hyderabad to cities like Chennai, Rajahmundry, Bhubaneswar and Tirupati were canceled while some were diverted. Due to this, hundreds of air passengers had to wait for hours at the airport to catch their flights. One user wrote, “IndiGo flight which was scheduled to depart from Hyderabad to Mumbai has been delayed. Passengers are stranded at the airport since 12.30 pm. No refreshments or accommodation was provided by the airline. Boarding was also delayed.”

Chennai airport closed due to water logging

As many as 12 flights were canceled in Pune due to Chennai airport being closed due to heavy rains and floods, affecting the travel plans of many people. Pune Railway Division officials have also reported disruption of some trains. Pune airport officials are seeking more information from the airlines. So far, six departing and six arriving flights have been cancelled, all of which are IndiGo. Chennai airport has been closed due to heavy waterlogging due to Cyclone Michong. Railways has canceled 17 long distance trains in East Central Railway jurisdiction due to the possibility of Cyclone Michong hitting Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh coasts.

Canceled trains-

▪️Danapur-SMVB Bengaluru Special (03251/03252)
▪️Danapur-Bangalore Special (06509/06510)
▪️Danapur-Bengaluru Sanghamitra Express (12295/12296)
▪️Gaya-Chennai Express (12389/12390)
▪️Dhanbad-Alleppey Express (13351/13352)
▪️Muzaffarpur-SMVB Bengaluru Express (15227/15228)
▪️Ernakulam-Patna Express (22643/22644)
▪️Ernakulam-Patna Express (22669/22670)

A video of a crocodile roaming on the road amid the floods caused by Cyclone Michong in Chennai is going viral. This crocodile was seen crossing the road in Perungalathur, near Chennai. The video of a crocodile swimming in water on the road is also going viral on social media. In the video it can be seen that the crocodile is crawling on the shore before disappearing into the bushes. After the video went viral, Supriya Sahu, Additional Chief Secretary, Environment and Climate Department, Tamil Nadu, said that there are some crocodiles in many water bodies of the city which have come out due to the rains. If these are disturbed then they can be dangerous. Otherwise there is no problem. In this case, Assistant Director of Zoological Park, Vandalur, Manikand Prabhu said that due to heavy rains the crocodile had come out of the lake. At present the range officials have become alert and are keeping a close watch on it.

Many are tweeting about this video.There are a few mugger crocodiles in several of the water bodies in Chennai. These are shy elusive animals and avoid human contact. This one has come out as the water has overflown due to massive rains under the impact of #CycloneMichuang please… https://t.co/qY8aTEdfaw

— Supriya Sahu IAS (@supriyasahuias) December 4, 2023

Forest department team busy in finding out the location of crocodile

Prabhu further said that due to heavy rains the actual location of the crocodile could not be known. But at present he is not present at the place where he was seen. Let us tell you that due to Cyclone Michang there was heavy rain in Chennai. After which many areas including residential areas have been flooded.

The government has declared a 4-day public holiday in 5 districts including Chennai. All offices except essential services have been closed. Flights have been stopped. Army and NDRF teams are busy evacuating people from the flooded area. According to IMD, Cyclone Michong is expected to reach the coast of Andhra Pradesh by Tuesday afternoon.