Cyclone Michaung made landfall along India's eastern coast as a powerful cyclonic storm on Tuesday afternoon, unleashing intense rainfall and strong winds that resulted in a minimum of 17 fatalities. Over the days leading up to Michaung's arrival, authorities had evacuated numerous individuals from coastal regions to minimize the potential loss of life.

The reported 17 deaths were verified by law enforcement in Chennai, a prominent city and the capital of a similarly named state that experienced flooding due to heavy rains on Monday as the cyclone approached the Indian coastline.

Michaung, a term symbolizing vigor and fortitude, struck the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, positioned between Nellore and Kavali, close to Chennai, around 1 p.m. local time. India's national weather agency reported winds of 55-60 miles per hour, accompanied by more forceful gusts.

Officials from Andhra Pradesh stated that they had successfully relocated over 9,500 individuals from coastal regions to 211 shelter camps established in safer zones.

The region experienced extensive flooding in low-lying areas due to heavy rainfall, while the strong winds caused the collapse of trees, power lines, and communication infrastructure, resulting in widespread power outages and disturbances. The full extent of the destruction remained uncertain at the time of reporting.

Director General of the Indian Meteorological Weather Department, Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, said although the extent of the damage is currently not clear, he forecasted that the storm would weaken into a depression in a few hours on Wednesday morning.

Before its landfall, Cyclone Michaung induced considerable disorder in Tamil Nadu, its neighboring state, primarily impacting its capital, Chennai.

The initial eight fatalities were recorded on Monday, attributed to rain-related incidents in Chennai. These included one fatality due to electrocution and two individuals killed by a falling tree. The rainfall inundated most of the city, significantly disrupting the lives of approximately 12 million residents, causing vehicles to be swept away on streets and submerging the city's airport.

After the cessation of rainfall and clearing of the waterlogged runway, operations at the airport resumed on Tuesday morning.

Teams from India's National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) conducted rescue missions in numerous inundated areas along the coast, while Andhra Pradesh placed all eight of its coastal districts on high alert.

The warm waters of the Bay of Bengal have birthed several lethal cyclones in recent years, causing extensive devastation in both India and Bangladesh.

In 2020, Cyclone Amphan resulted in a minimum of 80 fatalities in India and rendered thousands homeless. In 2019, Cyclone Fani claimed the lives of at least 89 individuals and displaced millions in Odisha, another coastal state in India. In 1999, a super cyclone took the lives of around 10,000 people as it struck Odisha.

Scientists have established a connection between the increasing frequency and strength of cyclones in the Bay of Bengal and global warming.

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