<p>A week after the impact of Cyclone Michaung, many parts of the southern Indian city of Chennai are back to their daily routine. However, tears continue to flow for those living in certain parts of north Chennai, a part of the city that houses petrochemical and fertiliser industries, and power plants. These tears are not a result of the havoc wreaked by the five-foot floodwater, but because of&nbsp;an oil spill that spread across their locality, along with the surging floodwaters. With the floodwaters receding, the major issue remains the thick, smelly oil slick&nbsp;on their walls, doors, roads and inside their homes.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Impact&amp; residue of the oil spill in north <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/chennai?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#chennai</a>, as seen in Ernavur, home to 500+ families<br />
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There's a strong chemical smell here, causing eye-watering, inconvenience to residents..With oil residue all around, they also fear risk of fire accidents<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ChennaiFloods2023?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ChennaiFloods2023</a>… <a href="https://t.co/acZk1BTlUx">pic.twitter.com/acZk1BTlUx</a></p>
— Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) <a href="https://twitter.com/sdhrthmp/status/1734109859703070813?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 11, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>Speaking to WION, a resident of Ernavur in north Chennai&nbsp;recalled that their area had seen flooding during the 2015 Chennai floods and also last week. However, the effect of the oil spill is something that has made recovering from the damage significantly tougher this time around. When most parts of Chennai were getting inundated on Monday (Dec 4), the residential areas in Ernavur were no exception. However, they were caught unaware&nbsp;when oil and chemicals mixed with the floodwaters entered their locality.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/cyclone-michuang-chennai-nearby-districts-lashed-by-over-20-cms-of-rain-cyclone-to-further-intensify-665950">&nbsp;Cyclone Michaung: Chennai, nearby districts lashed by over 25 cms of rain; airport arrivals closed for 14 hrs</a></strong></p>

<p>At the time of writing, state government agencies led by the State Pollution Control Board were probing the origin of the oil leak and clarity is yet to emerge on the exact cause of the same. Since the time flood waters receded around Thursday (Dec 7), those in Ernavur have been engaged in cleanup activities.&nbsp;</p>

<p>While cleaning up the floodwaters and related damage has happened relatively quickly, the oil stains and slick&nbsp;remain in their areas. "We have been using turpentine and other chemicals to try and remove the marks left behind by the oil, but there is not much of a difference. The strong smell of the oil still lingers on and slicks continue to be on our roads. There are more than 500 families living here," a resident who has been staying in Ernavur for more than two decades, told WION.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">The Oil spill in North <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Chennai?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Chennai</a> spans ~20square kms<a href="https://twitter.com/IndiaCoastGuard?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@IndiaCoastGuard</a> says it is from Kosasthalaiyar river to Kasimedu harbour<br />
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ICG ALH Mk3 helo with underslung equipment, sprayed Oil Spill Dispersants to break down, clear the oil&amp; minimise damage<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ChennaiRains?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ChennaiRains</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ChennaiFloods?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ChennaiFloods</a>… <a href="https://t.co/RpwaqNyOLR">pic.twitter.com/RpwaqNyOLR</a></p>
— Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) <a href="https://twitter.com/sdhrthmp/status/1734106681846698358?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 11, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>Last week, Chennai Petroleum Corporation Limited (CPCL), which operates in the region and supplies fuels such as LPG, petrol, aviation fuel and diesel to the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, denied any pipeline leak at their refinery in Manali, north Chennai.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In a social media post, the firm added that other industries of Manali were also badly affected due to cyclone Michaung. "Despite the flood situation in and around the refinery, the CPCL team rose to the occasion and ensured uninterrupted safe operation of the refinery and supply of fuels to the state of Tamil Nadu."</p>

<p>The firm also added that they have deployed absorbent pads, and gully suckers to remove oil traces from the canal and that medical camps were organised in the affected locality, Ernavur, where people had reported symptoms such as cough, cold and fever.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Oil spill cleanups are complicated and not all agencies are equipped or trained to deal with such disasters. The Indian Coast Guard, ports, oil handling agencies and a few stakeholders of the petrochemical sectors alone have the wherewithal to deal with such cases. As the oil spill and the floodwaters from Ernavur flowed into the nearby Koasathalaiyar River, the spill spread across the water body and eventually reached the sea, thereby compounding the adverse effect of the spill and potentially affecting the marine ecosystem. Typically, when oil slicks float atop water, it prevents the permeation of oxygen to the marine life below and leads to mass death&nbsp;of marine life, affects the livelihoods of fishers and hurts the economy.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/cyclone-michaung-pm-modi-speaks-to-andhra-cm-takes-stock-of-preparations-665746">Cyclone Michaung: PM Modi speaks to Andhra CM, takes stock of preparations</a></strong></p>

<p>Over the weekend, Indian coast guard assets were deployed to assess the extent and spread of the spill in the waters and it is estimated to have spread to an area spanning 20 square kilometres. According to the Coast Guard, the spill has extended at sea from the Kosasthalaiyar river mouth to the Kasimedu fishing harbour, a hub for fisherfolk in the region and home to a huge fish market.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Mindful of its responsibilities of preserving and protecting the marine environment, Coast Guard ships and helicopters undertook extensive pollution response operations to address the spill and avert major damage to the delicate coastal ecosystem, said the Coast Guard.&nbsp;</p>

<p>It added that the State Pollution Control Board is working to solve the problem of the oil trapped in the interior land area and the creek,&nbsp;with the assistance of the Indian Coast Guard oil spill response specialists. In pictures and videos, ICG’s Advanced Light Helicopter Mark 3 variant, equipped with an underslung oil spill dispersant sprayer was used to spray chemicals that help break down the oil, and disperse it, thereby drastically minimising its adverse impact. There are multiple methods that the Coast Guard employs to contain and minimise the damage caused by oil spills, based on the specific conditions of the spill and the prevalent weather, and sea conditions.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/cyclone-michaung-claims-17-lives-in-tamil-nadu-expected-to-weaken-further-in-andhra-pradesh-wion-666666">Cyclone Michaung claims 17 lives in Tamil Nadu, expected to weaken further in Andhra Pradesh&nbsp;</a></strong></p>

<p>While the oil spill in the waters is being addressed by the ICG, thousands of residents of Ernavur await support from the government for the oil spill cleanup in their residential areas, roads, and the walls of their buildings and homes. Residents are also apprehensive of the risk of fire accidents, given how even a small spark could prove tragic at a time when oil slicks are all around them and their dear ones. &nbsp;</p>


A week after the impact of Cyclone Michaung, many parts of the southern Indian city of Chennai are back to their daily routine. However, tears continue to flow for those living in certain parts of north Chennai, a part of the city that houses petrochemical and fertiliser industries, and power plants.

A week after the impact of Cyclone Michaung, many parts of the southern Indian city of Chennai are back to their daily routine. However, tears continue to flow for those living in certain parts of north Chennai, a part of the city that houses petrochemical and fertiliser industries, and power plants. These tears are not a result of the havoc wreaked by the five-foot floodwater, but because of an oil spill that spread across their locality, along with the surging floodwaters. With the floodwaters receding, the major issue remains the thick, smelly oil slick on their walls, doors, roads and inside their homes. Impact& residue of the oil spill in north #chennai, as seen in Ernavur, home to 500+ families There's a strong chemical smell here, causing eye-watering, inconvenience to residents..With oil residue all around, they also fear risk of fire accidents#ChennaiFloods2023… pic.twitter.com/acZk1BTlUx — Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) December 11, 2023 × Speaking to WION, a resident of Ernavur in north Chennai recalled that their area had seen flooding during the 2015 Chennai floods and also last week. However, the effect of the oil spill is something that has made recovering from the damage significantly tougher this time around. When most parts of Chennai were getting inundated on Monday (Dec 4), the residential areas in Ernavur were no exception. However, they were caught unaware when oil and chemicals mixed with the floodwaters entered their locality. ALSO READ | Cyclone Michaung: Chennai, nearby districts lashed by over 25 cms of rain; airport arrivals closed for 14 hrs At the time of writing, state government agencies led by the State Pollution Control Board were probing the origin of the oil leak and clarity is yet to emerge on the exact cause of the same. Since the time flood waters receded around Thursday (Dec 7), those in Ernavur have been engaged in cleanup activities. While cleaning up the floodwaters and related damage has happened relatively quickly, the oil stains and slick remain in their areas. "We have been using turpentine and other chemicals to try and remove the marks left behind by the oil, but there is not much of a difference. The strong smell of the oil still lingers on and slicks continue to be on our roads. There are more than 500 families living here," a resident who has been staying in Ernavur for more than two decades, told WION. The Oil spill in North #Chennai spans ~20square kms@IndiaCoastGuard says it is from Kosasthalaiyar river to Kasimedu harbour ICG ALH Mk3 helo with underslung equipment, sprayed Oil Spill Dispersants to break down, clear the oil& minimise damage#ChennaiRains #ChennaiFloods… pic.twitter.com/RpwaqNyOLR — Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) December 11, 2023 × Last week, Chennai Petroleum Corporation Limited (CPCL), which operates in the region and supplies fuels such as LPG, petrol, aviation fuel and diesel to the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, denied any pipeline leak at their refinery in Manali, north Chennai. In a social media post, the firm added that other industries of Manali were also badly affected due to cyclone Michaung. "Despite the flood situation in and around the refinery, the CPCL team rose to the occasion and ensured uninterrupted safe operation of the refinery and supply of fuels to the state of Tamil Nadu." The firm also added that they have deployed absorbent pads, and gully suckers to remove oil traces from the canal and that medical camps were organised in the affected locality, Ernavur, where people had reported symptoms such as cough, cold and fever. Oil spill cleanups are complicated and not all agencies are equipped or trained to deal with such disasters. The Indian Coast Guard, ports, oil handling agencies and a few stakeholders of the petrochemical sectors alone have the wherewithal to deal with such cases. As the oil spill and the floodwaters from Ernavur flowed into the nearby Koasathalaiyar River, the spill spread across the water body and eventually reached the sea, thereby compounding the adverse effect of the spill and potentially affecting the marine ecosystem. Typically, when oil slicks float atop water, it prevents the permeation of oxygen to the marine life below and leads to mass death of marine life, affects the livelihoods of fishers and hurts the economy. ALSO READ | Cyclone Michaung: PM Modi speaks to Andhra CM, takes stock of preparations Over the weekend, Indian coast guard assets were deployed to assess the extent and spread of the spill in the waters and it is estimated to have spread to an area spanning 20 square kilometres. According to the Coast Guard, the spill has extended at sea from the Kosasthalaiyar river mouth to the Kasimedu fishing harbour, a hub for fisherfolk in the region and home to a huge fish market. Mindful of its responsibilities of preserving and protecting the marine environment, Coast Guard ships and helicopters undertook extensive pollution response operations to address the spill and avert major damage to the delicate coastal ecosystem, said the Coast Guard. It added that the State Pollution Control Board is working to solve the problem of the oil trapped in the interior land area and the creek, with the assistance of the Indian Coast Guard oil spill response specialists. In pictures and videos, ICG’s Advanced Light Helicopter Mark 3 variant, equipped with an underslung oil spill dispersant sprayer was used to spray chemicals that help break down the oil, and disperse it, thereby drastically minimising its adverse impact. There are multiple methods that the Coast Guard employs to contain and minimise the damage caused by oil spills, based on the specific conditions of the spill and the prevalent weather, and sea conditions. ALSO WATCH | Cyclone Michaung claims 17 lives in Tamil Nadu, expected to weaken further in Andhra Pradesh While the oil spill in the waters is being addressed by the ICG, thousands of residents of Ernavur await support from the government for the oil spill cleanup in their residential areas, roads, and the walls of their buildings and homes. Residents are also apprehensive of the risk of fire accidents, given how even a small spark could prove tragic at a time when oil slicks are all around them and their dear ones.

India: Chennai deals with oil spill after Cyclone Michaung, coast guard deploys ships, helicopters

<p>The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) said&nbsp;Cyclone Michuang in the Bay of Bengal, has intensified into a severe cyclonic storm and lay around 90kms north-northeast of Chennai city, as of Monday noon.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Over the next 24 hours, it is expected to move northwards towards the Andhra Pradesh Coast. The extremely heavy rains caused by the cyclone have brought life to a standstill in Chennai city, where the airport is shut for 14 hours on Monday (until 11:30 pm). All&nbsp;arterial roads in the city have been flooded, and train services are badly affected. Waterlogging in&nbsp;low-lying areas have forced evacuation effort by the authorities.</p>

<p>According to Dr Balachandran, Head of the RMC, Chennai, the severe cyclonic storm is predicted to make landfall between Nellore and Machilipatnam regions in Andhra Pradesh. The landfall could happen around Bapatla, on Tuesday.</p>

<p>He added that widespread rainfall has occurred over the North Tamil Nadu coastal districts, which include Chennai city and adjoining regions. Elaborating on the quantum of rainfall, he said that 15 locations have recorded heavy rainfall, 59 locations have recorded very heavy rainfall and 21 locations have witnessed extremely heavy rains. Wind speeds near the Chennai airport clocked 88 kmph, while the wind speeds at the core city area clocked 71 kmph, he said.</p>

<p>In the forecast for Chennai and adjoining districts, he said that heavy to extremely heavy rainfall would continue to lash the region, with winds gusting up to 70 kmph.</p>

<p>Rescue and evacuation operations are underway at multiple localities in Chennai and adjoining districts, with the civic authorities, Police and the National Disaster Response Force, carrying out their respective duties. The Indian Army's 12 Madras Unit has also been deployed for evacuating personnel via boats, from waterlogged residential areas.</p>

<p>The Indian Army commenced flood relief operations, following a critical plea by the Chennai civic body, the Greater Chennai Corporation. The request was made to the Army, owing to an immediate requirement to rescue stranded residents from areas near water bodies. Two columns from the Indian Army Pallavaram Camp, operating under the Dakshin Bharat Area are carrying out the efforts. Comprising more than 120 personnel, the Army columns are equipped with boats, essential resources, flood relief stores, and heavy vehicles to navigate the inundated areas and provide aid. At the time of writing, the Army has rescued and rendered assistance to nearly 300 people.</p>


The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) said Cyclone Michuang in the Bay of Bengal, has intensified into a severe cyclonic storm and lay around 90kms north-northeast of Chennai city, as of Monday noon.

The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) said Cyclone Michuang in the Bay of Bengal, has intensified into a severe cyclonic storm and lay around 90kms north-northeast of Chennai city, as of Monday noon. Over the next 24 hours, it is expected to move northwards towards the Andhra Pradesh Coast. The extremely heavy rains caused by the cyclone have brought life to a standstill in Chennai city, where the airport is shut for 14 hours on Monday (until 11:30 pm). All arterial roads in the city have been flooded, and train services are badly affected. Waterlogging in low-lying areas have forced evacuation effort by the authorities. According to Dr Balachandran, Head of the RMC, Chennai, the severe cyclonic storm is predicted to make landfall between Nellore and Machilipatnam regions in Andhra Pradesh. The landfall could happen around Bapatla, on Tuesday. He added that widespread rainfall has occurred over the North Tamil Nadu coastal districts, which include Chennai city and adjoining regions. Elaborating on the quantum of rainfall, he said that 15 locations have recorded heavy rainfall, 59 locations have recorded very heavy rainfall and 21 locations have witnessed extremely heavy rains. Wind speeds near the Chennai airport clocked 88 kmph, while the wind speeds at the core city area clocked 71 kmph, he said. In the forecast for Chennai and adjoining districts, he said that heavy to extremely heavy rainfall would continue to lash the region, with winds gusting up to 70 kmph. Rescue and evacuation operations are underway at multiple localities in Chennai and adjoining districts, with the civic authorities, Police and the National Disaster Response Force, carrying out their respective duties. The Indian Army's 12 Madras Unit has also been deployed for evacuating personnel via boats, from waterlogged residential areas. The Indian Army commenced flood relief operations, following a critical plea by the Chennai civic body, the Greater Chennai Corporation. The request was made to the Army, owing to an immediate requirement to rescue stranded residents from areas near water bodies. Two columns from the Indian Army Pallavaram Camp, operating under the Dakshin Bharat Area are carrying out the efforts. Comprising more than 120 personnel, the Army columns are equipped with boats, essential resources, flood relief stores, and heavy vehicles to navigate the inundated areas and provide aid. At the time of writing, the Army has rescued and rendered assistance to nearly 300 people.

Michaung now a severe cyclone, headed for Andhra coast; rains continue to lash Chennai

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India: Chennai deals with oil spill after Cyclone Michaung, coast guard deploys ships, helicopters

Michaung now a severe cyclone, headed for Andhra coast; rains continue to lash Chennai