Cyclone Fengal: PM Modi calls CM Stalin, assures Centre’s support to tackle flood situation

Cyclone Fengal brought torrential rain to southern Karnataka on Tuesday, prompting authorities in multiple districts to declare holidays for schools and colleges. However, Bengaluru will remain unaffected by these closures, despite a yellow alert issued for the region.

The district collectors of Dakshina Kannada, Kodagu, Chamarajanagar, Udupi, Mysuru, Chikkaballapur and Mandya have announced a one-day holiday for educational institutions on Tuesday.

In Chamarajanagar, all schools and colleges, except degree colleges conducting examinations, will remain closed. Similarly, in Chikkamagaluru, the holiday applies to primary and high schools as well as anganwadis.

Several roads in Nettapakkam, Puducherry, have submerged due to severe flooding, leading to transport disruptions in the area.

Several districts in Tamil Nadu are reeling from severe flooding, road destruction, and shortages of essential commodities following torrential rains. Protests erupted in areas like Arasur in Villupuram, where residents demanded basic supplies. Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Chief Minister M.K. Stalin to offer support in managing the crisis.

Cyclone Fengal has caused widespread devastation across 14 districts, with extensive damage to roads, electricity lines, and crops. The storm has resulted in 12 fatalities, displaced thousands, and caused significant agricultural losses.

In Arasur, 18 people were rescued from a damaged temple, while the NDRF carried out successful evacuations in Cuddalore. In a tragic incident in Thiruvannamalai, seven people, including five children, died when a boulder crashed into their home due to a mudslide. Educational institutions in affected districts remain closed.

Chief Minister Stalin is overseeing relief efforts and has instructed officials to expedite recovery operations. (Inputs from PTI)

"It is very unfortunate, every year the intensity of the damage in Tamil Nadu is only going high. Right now, we are standing in an important area which produces a lot of salt. You can see that there is a tarpaulin which covers the salt that is taken from here. Close to 80 per cent of the salt has been washed away due to the rain because there wasn't a higher place to store the salt. Close to 5000 people have been affected..." says Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai (@annamalai_k) as he visited a salt field in Marakkanam to review the affect of Cyclone Fengal. (PTI inputs)

Heavy rainfall triggers landslide resulting in damage to properties in Mangaluru and Bajpe areas. (PTI inputs)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Tuesday to discuss the ongoing flood situation in the state and offered full support from the Centre. On Monday, Chief Minister M K Stalin wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking immediate relief of Rs 2,000 crore from the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) to address the disaster’s fallout.

Villupuram district in northern Tamil Nadu remained submerged under unprecedented floodwaters on Monday after intense rainfall caused widespread damage, blocking access to villages and residential areas. Bridges and roads were submerged, and vast swathes of standing crops were inundated.

In a tragic incident in Tiruvannamalai, five bodies were recovered from a house that was crushed by a boulder during a mudslide on the night of December 1, amid the heavy rains. (PTI inputs)

Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Tuesday described the damage caused by Cyclone Fengal in Tamil Nadu as "devastating" and called on Congress workers in the state to support the administration in ongoing relief efforts. Cyclone Fengal, which emerged as a low-pressure area on November 23, has caused widespread destruction across 14 districts of Tamil Nadu. Gandhi expressed his condolences to the victims and urged Congress workers to step forward and assist in relief activities wherever possible.

"Devastating news of Cyclone Fengal in Tamil Nadu. My heartfelt condolences to those who have lost loved ones during this tragedy. My thoughts are also with those whose homes and property have been damaged," Gandhi said on X. (PTI inputs)

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin expressed grief over the death of seven persons, including five children, in a rain-related incident in Annamalaiyar Hill in Thiruvannamalai district and announced Rs 5 lakh solatium each to their kin on Tuesday.

The seven persons, including a family of four in VOC Nagar on the foothills and three children from the neighbourhood were trapped in a house and got buried under mud and rocks, after a boulder rolled down from the hilltop following torrential rain on December 1, and hit the residential building.

Their bodies were recovered on December 2 evening following a hectic search by NDRF, police, and fire and rescue service personnel.

In Vikravandi, rising floodwaters over an arterial bridge that connects the town to Mundiyampakkam led Southern Railway to suspend train operations on Monday. Among the cancelled services were the Chennai Egmore-Nagercoil Vande Bharat Express and several other key routes linking northern Tamil Nadu to the central and southern regions.

Vikravandi and Krishnagiri were the worst-affected areas following heavy rain late Sunday night. Villupuram and Puducherry have also been reeling under the cyclone’s fury over the past two days. Villupuram witnessed unprecedented flooding and Krishnagiri its worst deluge in decades, battering infrastructure and submerging agricultural fields.

Cyclonic Storm Fengal crossed over the coasts of north Tamil Nadu and Puducherry early on Sunday morning. Both Tamil Nadu and Puducherry have been witnessing heavy rain since Thursday, leading to the closure of Chennai Airport until 4 AM on Sunday. Amid several videos of destruction on social media, footage of an Airbus A320 neo plane of IndiGo Airlines struggling to land during the cyclonic storm is stirring up attention.

The viral clip shows the IndiGo flight preparing to touch the ground during heavy rain and strong winds. When the plane’s wheels reach just inches from the ground, it flies off again, aborting the landing. (Read More)

Cyclone Fengal, which wreaked havoc across 14 districts of Tamil Nadu, has left over 1.5 crore individuals and 69 lakh families grappling with extensive destruction, according to the state government. On Monday, Chief Minister M K Stalin wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking immediate relief of Rs 2,000 crore from the National Disaster Response Fund to address the disaster’s fallout.

The cyclone, which began as a low-pressure system on November 23, intensified before landfall on December 1. It unleashed torrential rains and wind speed of 90 km/hour in districts such as Villupuram, Kallakurichi, Cuddalore, and Tiruvannamalai. Interior districts like Dharmapuri, Krishnagiri, Ranipet, Vellore and Tirupattur were also severely affected. (Read More)

Puducherry Chief Minister N Rangasamy Monday announces various relief measures, as well as financial compensation of Rs 5 lakh for the four victims who lost their lives due to the cyclone and rains. Addressing a press conference, Rangasamy said that the downpour in Puducherry had never been witnessed before, adding that an unprecedented rainfall of 48.4 cm had been recorded for over 24 hours on December 1 till 9 am.

The CM also said that 3.54 lakh families under the public distribution system will be granted Rs 5,000 each, which will be credited directly to their bank accounts. He added that dairy farmers will receive Rs 40,000 for each cow lost and Rs 20,000 for calves.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin visited Marakkanam in Tamil Nadu's Villupuram to assess the impact of cyclone Fengal, news agency ANI reported.

Efforts are on to rescue stranded citizens from flood-affected areas in Tamil Nadu's Kurinji Nagar, news agency ANI reported.

Tamil Nadu Minister MRK Panneerselvam too inspected the flood-affected Gunduuppalavadi village in Cuddalore.

Floodwaters Monday inundated several houses in NR Nagar under the Embalam constituency in Puducherry, news agency ANI reported.

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Due to the impact of cyclone Fengal, Bengaluru may witness a generally cloudy sky and moderate rain with intermittent spells of heavy rain on Monday, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

According to the IMD forecast for the next 24 hours, the maximum and minimum temperatures are likely to be around 23 degrees Celsius and 20 degrees Celsius, respectively.

The IMD has issued an orange alert for Southern Karnataka regions for Monday. The coastal and Malnad districts are likely to experience heavy rain with thunderstorms over the next two days. A yellow alert is in place for coastal districts for Monday and Tuesday.

Read the full story here.

Teams of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel commenced clearing the mud over a building in which seven individuals were feared "trapped" in Annamalaiyar Hill area in the district on Monday, news agency PTI reported.

"The locals say that seven, including five children have been living in this building. It is not known whether the occupants are still there or have taken shelter (due to heavy rains) elsewhere. We will know the true picture through the rescue operation," Thiruvannamalai district Collector D Bhaskar Pandian told PTI, after inspecting the affected house in VOC Nagar on the foothill.

The collector told reporters that a boulder had rolled down due to a mud slip on the hilltop on Sunday owing to the heavy rain triggered by Cyclone Fengal. "Due to this, a house was completely buried under mud. I and the Superintendent of Police, and other officials visited the spot," the collector said.

"Though there is no rain now, there is a possibility of a mud slip on the hill due to the impact of overnight rains. So, we have evacuated 50 to 80 people from the area so far. Only mud has covered up the house," he said. (PTI)

After making landfall close to Puducherry on November 30, Cyclone Fengal weakened on Sunday, but torrential downpour under its influence wreaked havoc in the union territory.

Here's what all happened in Puducherry:

(with PTI inputs)

Heavy rains caused by cyclone Fengal led to inundation in the Uthangarai area of Krishnagiri district in Tamil Nadu, impacting lives of people.

Water, which could be seen flowing above the road, entered the houses in residential areas. (PTI)

After making landfall near Puducherry two days earlier, cyclone Fengal weakened on Sunday, but torrential downpour under its influence paralysed the union territory.

Puducherry Chief Minister N Rangasamy has said that a detailed report was being prepared assessing the extent of damage caused by the Cyclone Fengal and will be sent to the Centre seeking relief, news agency PTI reported.

Meanwhile, all schools and colleges remained closed in Puducherry and Karaikal regions on Monday. (PTI)

Due to the suspension of Bridge 452 (situated between Vikravandi and Mundiyampakkam in Tamil Nadu) and water rising above the danger level, several Express trains have either been fully cancelled or diverted, the Southern Railways announced on Monday.

The IMD Monday stated that the depression over north coastal Tamil Nadu and Puducherry is likely to move westwards very slowly and weaken gradually into a depression over north Tamil Nadu in the next 12 hours.

Cyclone Fengal which made landfall on Saturday is now a depression and continues to weaken over north coastal Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Monday.

Heavy rains continue to lash parts of the state and the union territory, disrupting normal life and causing widespread flooding in Villupuram and Cuddalore.

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