ANI
Cyclone Fengal made landfall on Saturday night between 10:30 pm and 11:30 pm IST, near Puducherry, with wind speeds of 70-80 km/h, gusting up to 90 km/h. The cyclone’s impact led to heavy rainfall and gusty winds, disrupting road and air services and affecting normal life in Puducherry and various parts of Tamil Nadu.
Torrential rains inundated homes and hospitals, causing residents to seek shelters, and park vehicles in flyovers and elevated areas. Tragically, three people lost their lives in separate rain-related incidents, including a migrant worker electrocuted while attempting to withdraw cash from an ATM in the Muthialpet area. The victim identified as Chandan was a native of Odisha, working at a private showroom at Parrys, and accidentally came into contact with live electricity leaking from the damaged cable while pushing the kiosk door. Chandan was thrown on the road by the impact of the shock. Though bystanders rushed him to a nearby government hospital, he was declared dead on arrival.
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Electricity was disconnected in most areas due to the strong winds, and 18 disaster relief teams were stationed in vulnerable areas.
#WATCH | #CycloneFengal | Tamil Nadu | Indian Army troops of the Chennai Garrison Battalion under the Dakshin Bharat area rescue those stranded in waterlogged areas
(Source – Chennai Defence PRO) pic.twitter.com/OleUUR2AQy---Advertisement---— ANI (@ANI) December 1, 2024
The airport had temporarily suspended operations on Saturday due to strong winds and heavy rainfall caused by cyclones. Airlines had issued travel advisories and updated their flight schedules in response to the continuous downpours in Tamil Nadu. Several passengers experienced delays, with many stranded at the airport for 8 to 10 hours due to the sudden cancellation of flights.
Tamil Nadu Minister KKSSR Ramachandran stated there were no immediate reports of significant damage, though further details were expected by Sunday. Chief Minister MK Stalin and Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin conducted reviews and on-site inspections. Stalin also held a virtual meeting with district collectors and officials from northern districts to assess the ground situation and spoke with residents in a relief camp in Chengalpet district.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Cyclone Fengal, which had been stationary over north coastal Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, was classified as a cyclonic storm with wind speeds of 65-75 km/h, gusting up to 85 km/h. The IMD stated that the cyclone would gradually weaken into a deep depression within the next three hours and continue to move west-southwestward.
The IMD’s post on X stated: “The Cyclonic Storm “FENGAL” over north coastal Tamilnadu & Puducherry remained practically stationary during the past 1 hour and lay centred at 0030 hrs IST of today, the 01st December over the same region near latitude 12.0°N and longitude 79.8°E, close to Puducherry, as a cyclonic storm with a wind speed of 65-75 mph gusting to 85 mph. The cyclonic storm “FENGAL” will move west-southwestwards slowly and weaken gradually into a deep depression during the next 3 hours. The system is being continuously monitored by the Doppler Weather Radar at Chennai & Karaikal,”.
