Chennai: A day before Cyclone Michaung is expected make landfall between Nellore and Machilipatnam in Andhra Pradesh as a severe cyclonic storm, heavy rain and gusty winds battered the Tamil Nadu coastline.
So severe were the conditions that at least five people were killed in several rain-related incidents in Chennai.
Flight operations at Chennai airport were badly affected as the runway was flooded, leading to diversion and cancellation of dozens of flights.
Flight operations have now been suspended till 9 am on Tuesday because of the severe weather conditions.
Of the five deaths reported to Chennai Police from across the city, the body of an unidentified man aged around 70 years was found on a platform near Vaidyanathan flyover, while another body of an unidentified woman, aged around 60, was found at Foreshore Estate bus depot.
Padmanaban (50) succumbed after getting electrocuted in Dindigul district, while 70-year-old Ganesan was electrocuted while walking near his house in Pandiyan Nagar.
Murugan, 35, was killed in Besant Nagar after a tree fell on him.
Tamil Nadu government declared public holiday on Monday and Tuesday in Chennai, Kanchipuram, Tiruvallur and Chengalpattu districts. The government urged private companies to advise its employees to work from home in because of the cyclone.
