Watch | Giant crocodile spotted crossing street in flood-battered Chennai

Reacting to the viral video, Tamil Nadu's Additional Chief Secretary for Environment Climate Change and Forests, Supriya Sahu, advised locals not to go close to water bodies and urged them not to panic.

“Many are tweeting about this video. There are a few mugger crocodiles in several of the water bodies in Chennai. These are shy elusive animals and avoid human contact. This one has come out as the water has overflown due to massive rains under the impact of #CycloneMichuang please do not go close to water bodies. There is no possibility of harm to humans IF these animals are left alone & UNPROVOKED. No need to panic. Wildlife division has been alerted and they are on the job to avoid any untoward incident #cyclonemichaung #Cyclone #Michaung #ChennaiRains," Sahu wrote on X.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Monday informed that Cyclone Michaung lay “centered over west central and adjoining southwest Bay of Bengal off south Andhra Pradesh and adjoining north Tamil Nadu coasts about 110 km east-northeast of Chennai”.

It is likely to move north-north-westwards and cross between Nellore and Machilipatnam close to Bapatla by Tuesday.

In Odisha, five districts, including Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Gajapati, and Ganjam, have reportedly been put on alert as the IMD has issued a ‘yellow’ warning for the region.

Fishermen in the state have been asked not to venture into the deep sea along and off Odisha coast from December 4-6.