Cyclone Fengal Brings Heavy Rains

Cyclone Fengal made landfall along the coastal lines of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry on Saturday, November 30, 2024, bringing heavy rainfall and triggering inundation of several parts. The cyclonic storm crossed north Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coasts, close to Puducherry with a wind speed of 70-80 kmph gusting to 90 kmph.

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Record Rainfall in Puducherry
Puducherry recorded 48.4cm rainfall in the last 24 hours (till 8.30 am Sunday), which is the highest 24-hours cumulative rainfall in the last 30 years. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) stated that Cyclone Fengal has caused extremely heavy rainfall over the city of Puducherry. The city recorded 48.4cm today, the 1st Dec (cumulative rainfall during past 24 hours till 0830 hours IST of today).

Disruption of Services
The heavy rainfall led to flooding in low-lying areas and disrupting flights and train services in Chennai. The Chennai airport, which was shut for 16 hours due to the cyclone, reopened at 4:00 a.m. (local time) on Sunday, but many flights were cancelled or delayed. The cyclone also affected flight operations and disrupted normal life.

Rescue Operations
The Indian Army has rescued more than 100 people in flooded areas in Puducherry. Rescuers waded through waist-high water in India’s Puducherry region as Cyclone Fengal brought the heaviest 24-hour rainfall in 30 years to the region. The situation in Puducherry was grim as heavy rains continued to lash the city and nearby localities.

Impact on Daily Life
Normal life was crippled in Puducherry due to heavy rains that lashed the union territory in the wake of Cyclone Fengal. Main thoroughfares and arterial roads were waterlogged disrupting daily life. Farmlands with standing crops bore the brunt of the heavy rain. Transport services were hit, and voluntary organisations like Pondicherry Heritage Round Table 167 volunteered to supplement the efforts of the government to supply food packets to people staying in relief camps.

Casualties and Damage
At least three people were killed in Chennai in separate incidents as Cyclone Fengal triggered heavy rainfall and strong winds over coastal areas in Tamil Nadu and neighbouring Puducherry. The cyclone also caused flooding in Tamil Nadu state and the Puducherry region, uprooting trees and causing widespread power outages. Homes remain waterlogged, and residents could not step out of their houses for hours.

Relief Efforts
The government set up relief centers to accommodate people evacuated from low-lying areas. Officials said rescue operations are underway in multiple affected areas, and hundreds of residents were evacuated from flood-hit areas. The operations have been conducted efficiently with the coordinated efforts of the local administration, police forces, Army, and specialized rescue teams.