Chennai Airport Resumes Operations As Cyclone Fengal Crosses TN, Puducherry Coasts

Flight operations at the Chennai International Airport resumed early on Sunday morning after Cyclone Fengal crossed the North Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coasts.

Chennai: Flight operations at the Chennai International Airport resumed early on Sunday morning after Cyclone Fengal crossed the North Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coasts. The airport had temporarily suspended operations on Saturday due to strong winds and heavy rainfall caused by cyclones.

"Based on the meeting with IMD, Airlines, AAI and other stakeholders in view of the revised weather forecast and readiness of the operational area, Chennai Airport will resume operations from 0100 hrs (01.12.2024). We recommend passengers check with their respective airlines regarding their flights," the airport informed through a post on X.

#UPDATE | Based on the meeting with IMD, Airlines, AAI and other stakeholders in view of the revised weather forecast and readiness of the operational area, Chennai Airport will resume operations from 0100 hrs (01.12.2024).

We recommend passengers check with their respective… pic.twitter.com/iFlmP5JZkX

— Chennai (MAA) Airport (@aaichnairport) November 30, 2024

Airlines had issued travel advisories and updated their flight schedules in response to the continuous downpours in Tamil Nadu. Several passengers experienced delays, with many stranded at the airport for 8 to 10 hours due to the sudden cancellation of flights.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Cyclone Fengal, which had been stationary over north coastal Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, was classified as a cyclonic storm with wind speeds of 65-75 km/h, gusting up to 85 km/h. The IMD stated that the cyclone would gradually weaken into a deep depression within the next three hours and continue to move west-southwestward.

HOURLY UPDATE ON CYCLONIC STORM “FENGAL”

The Cyclonic Storm “FENGAL” [pronounced as FEINJAL] over north coastal Tamilnadu & Puducherry remained practically stationary during past 1 hour and lay centered at 0030 hrs IST of today, the 01st December 2024 over the same region near… pic.twitter.com/fjJRQOaKyf

— India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) November 30, 2024

"The Cyclonic Storm "FENGAL" [pronounced as FEINJAL] over north coastal Tamilnadu & Puducherry remained practically stationary during the past 1 hour and lay centred at 0030 hrs IST of today, the 01st December over the same region near latitude 12.0°N and longitude 79.8°E, close to Puducherry, as a cyclonic storm with a wind speed of 65-75 kmph gusting to 85 kmph. The cyclonic storm "FENGAL" will move west-southwestwards slowly and weaken gradually into a deep depression during the next 3 hours. The system is being continuously monitored by the Doppler Weather Radar at Chennai & Karaikal," IMD posted on X.

#WATCH | Morning visuals from Kovalam Beach, in Kerala#FengalCyclone made landfall on the Puducherry coast at 7 pm on Saturday. Storm to move south-west of Tamil Nadu, weaken into deep depression, says IMD pic.twitter.com/QGZpHkIZb8

— ANI (@ANI) December 1, 2024

Cyclone Fengal made landfall on Saturday night between 10:30 pm and 11:30 pm IST, near Puducherry, with wind speeds of 70-80 km/h, gusting up to 90 km/h. As a precautionary measure, people in affected areas have been relocated to relief camps near Kalpakkam in the Chengalpattu district. The cyclone's impact led to heavy rainfall and gusty winds, disrupting road and air services and affecting normal life in Puducherry and various parts of Tamil Nadu.