Cyclone Mandous crossed the coast near Mamallapuram (Mahabalipuram) in the early hours of Saturday leaving behind a trail of uprooted trees and submerged roads in some parts of Tamil Nadu.
Four persons died as the cyclone wreaked havok in the state, Tamil Nadu Revenue and Disaster Management Minister KKSSR Ramachandran said after a review meeting. One person, Lakshmi, died due to a wall collapse in Chennai.
Four persons sustained injuries in a wall collapse in the Saidapet area of Chennai as a house under construction suffered damage. 36 districts of the State could continue to receive heavy rains today, weathermen said.
Nearly 100 fishing boats stationed at Kasimedu had been destroyed as the Mandous Cyclone created havoc in coastal areas of Tamil Nadu, including Chennai.
Fishing activity along the Tamil Nadu coast could be affected for 10 to 15 days as boats and nets were damaged in many areas. Many parts of Chennai received heavy rains ranging from 11 to 14 cm in the last 24 hours.
Venpaakkam in Tiruvannamalai district received 25 cm of rainfall. In T Nagar of Chennai, three cars were damaged due to tree falls. In Ambattur, two houses were damaged due to tree falls.
Tamil Nadu chief minister M K Stalin went around some of the affected areas in Chennai and handed over relief material to affected persons in Thiruvanmiyur, Kottivakkam, Injambakkam, and Kasimedu.
He also held a review at the State Secretariat to assess the damage caused by the cyclone and the progress of relief measures.
9, 280 persons had been moved out from low-lying areas to 205 camps in 9 districts.
Power and transmission lines were affected in parts of Chennai and Mamallapuram areas, while a section of roads in north Tamil Nadu especially in Tiruvallur, Kanchipuram, and Tiruvannamalai districts were submerged.
In some areas, the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board effected a power cut to avoid loss of lives on the roads due to electrocution.
Educational institutions remained closed in Tamil Nadu. The Vandalur zoo and parks in Chennai were closed. Tourism activity in Kodaikanal hill station came to a halt as authorities barred tourists from visiting various spots due to the fall of a large number of trees.
2,863 irrigation tanks in Tamil Nadu were full due to heavy rains.
36 flights were disrupted to and from Chennai airport in the last 24 hours. Today, six flights were suspended.