Cyclone Fengal Brings Flooding, Heavy Rain, and 19 Deaths to Southern India

Wednesday 04 December 2024 - 11:45

By: Dakir Madiha

Cyclone Fengal Brings Flooding, Heavy Rain, and 19 Deaths to Southern India

Cyclone Fengal has wreaked havoc across southern India, causing heavy rainfall, widespread flooding, school closures, and severe travel disruptions. The storm has claimed at least 16 lives in Sri Lanka and 3 in India, with media reports confirming ongoing damage across multiple regions.

The Indian Army has been deployed in Puducherry to aid in rescue efforts after the city received its heaviest rainfall in 30 years. Authorities evacuated nearly 200 people from the most affected areas following the cyclone's landfall on November 30. The floods have led to widespread power outages and the shutdown of many businesses.

In Tamil Nadu, a 45-year-old man was electrocuted by a fallen power cable, while another man lost his life while attempting to pump out water from a flooded area. In response, the government has promised compensation to the victims' families. Since Sunday, state and national disaster response teams have been working tirelessly to rescue those stranded by the floods. Tamil Nadu recorded over 40 cm of rain in several areas, which the state’s chief minister described as “unprecedented.”

The state of Kerala has also been affected, with authorities imposing restrictions on pilgrims heading to the popular Sabarimala shrine, particularly in the Pathanamthitta and Idukki districts. Officials have warned against entering rivers or trekking in certain forest areas until conditions improve.

The impact of the storm in Tamil Nadu continues to be severe, with the Villupuram region submerged under water and major transportation routes, including the Vikravandi-Mundiyampakkam bridge, left impassable. Train services have been suspended, and although Chennai airport resumed operations on December 1, areas like Cuddalore and Dharmapuri remain cut off, with roads completely flooded and vehicles swept away.

In Kanchipuram district, overflowing dams have exacerbated flooding, and the Thenpennai River has severed road connections in Tiruvannamalai. In response to the crisis, over 900,000 food packets have been distributed, and around 1,000 people have been sheltered in relief camps.

Schools and colleges in Mysuru, Kolar, and Chikkaballapur, Karnataka, have been closed, while Puducherry has extended school closures in Karaikal. Puducherry’s chief minister has announced that a damage report is being prepared for the central government. Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department has issued a red alert for extremely heavy rainfall in parts of Kerala as the weakened cyclone is expected to intensify again today near the Kerala-Karnataka coast.