Chennai floods: CSK star cricketer expresses solidarity

Chennai: Cyclone Michuang has been creating a significant crisis in Tamil Nadu, particularly its capital, Chennai, creating severe water logging in several areas of the city on Monday.

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has informed that the storm, which is now in the Bay of Bengal, might move towards the Andhra Pradesh coast. According to the prediction, the storm will make landfall in Nellore and Machilipatnam by Tuesday noon.

Now, Indian Premier League (IPL) franchisee Chennai Super Kings (CSK) star Maheesh Theekshana expressed his concerns over the cyclone. He was reacting to a viral video of water logging from the city in which he expressed his solidarity with the affected people.

Posting the video on X, he wrote that he watched the footage and is standing with the people of his 'second home', Chennai.

"Sending all my love and prayers to everyone affected. Stay strong, stay safe. We're in this together," he wrote.

The state government has issued an advisory requesting people to stay indoors and work from home. They must not take shelter under trees. They were requested to gather critical supplies such as non-perishable food items, water, and necessary medications.

Civic body personnel were reportedly struggling as several parts of the city remained submerged in the stagnant water. Meanwhile, footage showed streets in floods and parked cars being swept away in heavy currents.

The city is experiencing severe traffic jams in places including Chennai's Chrompet GST Road. The Vadakarai Road in north Chennai is flooded, making it impassable from Madhavaram to Sengunram. Chennai city and nearby districts saw heavy rainfall through the night, with Meenambakkam recording 196 mm and Nungambakkam receiving 154.3 mm.

The schools, colleges, and government officers in the city are closed for the day as authorities have urged private companies to allow workers to stay home and work.

Last night, Chief Minister MK Stalin reviewed safety measures while monitoring the situation.

Authorities opened 5,000 relief centres in coastal districts to help people affected by the heavy rain.

Spinner Theekshana has been retained by CSK for the IPL 2024 edition, while the mini-auction is to take place later this month.