Cyclone Fengal: Cyclonic storm Fengal commenced its landfall process close to Puducherry and it may approximately take 4 hours for it to cross the coast completely, PTI reported, citing an India Meteorological Department (IMD) official on Saturday.

Cyclone Fengal made landfall near Puducherry and is likely to cross the Tamil Nadu coasts in the next three to four hours.

The India Meteorological Department has issued a red alert for Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Andhra Pradesh, with the cyclone likely to make landfall today evening

The Department of Revenue and Disaster Management has set up toll-free numbers 112 and 1077 to receive distress calls from the public. People can also seek help through the WhatsApp number 9488981070.

Passengers are advised to check with the railway authorities for further updates and to plan their journeys accordingly.

IndiGo Airlines has temporarily suspended all arrival and departure flight operations at Chennai Airport due to adverse weather conditions.

Over 50 flights were cancelled, leaving thousands of passengers stranded at the airport and in neighbouring states.

Cyclonic storm Fengal has commenced making landfall close to Puducherry and it may approximately take 4 hours for it to cross the coast completely, an India Meteorological Department (IMD) official said.

Heavy rains lashed India’s south and a major airport shut operations as cyclone Fengal made landfall late on Saturday.  Cyclones -- the equivalent of hurricanes in the North Atlantic or typhoons in the northwestern Pacific -- are a regular and deadly menace in

Airports Authority of India (AAI) in a post on X recommended that passengers should check with their respective airlines regarding their flights.

Chennai airport has suspended operations until 4 am Sunday due to heavy rains from cyclone Fengal, leading to runway inundation. Over 50 flights were canceled and 19 diverted, leaving thousands stranded.