The cyclone is likely to continue moving west-northwestward and cross the north Tamil Nadu-Puducherry coasts between Karaikal and Mahabalipuram, near Puducherry, as a cyclonic storm with wind speeds of 70-80 km/h, gusting to 90 km/h, during the afternoon of November 30.

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.

The IMD stated that Cyclone Fengal is expected to move westward and cross the north Tamil Nadu-Puducherry coast between Karaikal and Mahabalipuram near Puducherry as a cyclonic storm, with wind speeds of 70-80 kmph, gusting up to 90 kmph, by the evening of November 30.

Parts of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry experienced heavy rains due to the landfall process of cyclone Fengal. Senior officials in three southern states, including Andhra Pradesh assigned to supervise and coordinate related tasks with district authorities are stationed in their respective districts.

Several airlines issued travel advisories about their schedules amid heavy rain in the region due to storm set to make landfall near Tamil Nadu.

Cyclone Fengal brought heavy rains to Chennai, inundating hospitals and houses. Despite official warnings, people visited beaches and heritage sites. Authorities are working intensely to manage waterlogging and safety issues,

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

Normal life was paralysed in Chennai, its neighboring districts, parts of northern Tamil Nadu, and Puducherry on Saturday as cyclonic storm Fengal (pronounced as Feinjal) lay centered about 50 km southeast of Mahabalipuram (Mamallapuram).

Chennai airport on Friday announced suspension of operations till 4 am on December 1 following heavy inundation of runways and the taxiway, due to the cyclone 'Fengal' triggered rains and the 'adverse weather condition,

The airport was earlier closed from noon to 7pm on Saturday as airlines cited difficulties in landing and taking off due to heavy crosswinds.