Chennai, Tamil Nadu | December 4, 2025:
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a severe Orange Alert for Chennai and the northern coastal districts of Tamil Nadu, warning of heavy to very heavy rainfall reaching 150 mm within 24 hours. The weather disturbance is fueled by a deep depression over the Bay of Bengal, formed from the remnants of Cyclone Senyar, which recently devastated Indonesia and Sri Lanka, claiming over 400 lives.
Puducherry and Karaikal have been placed under Yellow Alerts, with forecasts of thunderstorms and wind speeds reaching 60 kmph, raising concerns of urban flooding, power outages, and flight disruptions at Chennai International Airport.
Tamil Nadu Revenue Minister R.B. Udhayakumar has mobilized 5,000 state relief teams, while IMD Director Mrityunjay Mohapatra emphasized the growing role of climate change in intensifying monsoon systems. Authorities have evacuated 20,000 residents from low-lying areas and begun distributing ₹5,000 relief assistance per family.
Agricultural losses may be significant, with 10,000 hectares of paddy crops at high risk of submergence. Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has submitted a request for central financial support, citing parallels to the destructive 2023 Cyclone Michaung, which caused damages exceeding ₹2,000 crore.
The NDRF remains on standby, and fishermen have been strictly warned against venturing into the sea as India confronts yet another reminder of its vulnerability to extreme weather and rising sea levels, highlighted in recent UN climate assessments.
