Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], December 1: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin visited the State Emergency Operations Centre on Sunday to inspect ongoing relief efforts in the aftermath of Cyclone Fengal, which caused heavy rainfall and flooding across the state.
CM Stalin urged the Union government to send a central team to assess the damage, particularly to crops affected by the cyclone. He also visited various areas in the Kolathur assembly constituency and was accompanied by Tamil Nadu Revenue and Disaster Management Minister KKSSR Ramachandran and other officials from the Disaster Management Department.
The Chief Minister highlighted that nearly 27,000 food packets had been distributed through Amma canteens since the previous day, and 21 of Chennai’s 23 subways had been cleared of waterlogging. “Since yesterday, Amma canteens have distributed food to 27,000 people. 21 of the 23 subways in Chennai have been cleared. Precautionary measures are in place across all districts, and I urge the central government to send a team to assess the cyclone’s impact, especially the crop damage,” Stalin said.
Many districts in Tamil Nadu have been battered by heavy rains since Cyclone Fengal made landfall on November 30, submerging residential areas in Cuddalore. Rescue teams have been using boats to evacuate stranded residents. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), led by District Collector Balaraman, has been actively involved in these rescue efforts. Additionally, Tamil Nadu’s Disaster Rescue team cleared a fallen tree on the national highway in Chinna Gangankuppam, a border area between Cuddalore and Puducherry, using a JCB machine.
In Puducherry, Indian Army troops from the Chennai Garrison Battalion were mobilized to assist in rescue operations, especially in the Krishna Nagar area, where rising floodwaters trapped residents in around 500 houses. The army began operations early on Sunday, successfully evacuating over 100 people in the first two hours.
Puducherry Chief Minister N Rangasamy reported that the Union Territory received 50 cm of rainfall overnight, leading to severe flooding. Rescue teams are working diligently to evacuate those affected. The rainfall from Cyclone Fengal set a record for the highest 24-hour cumulative rainfall in the past 30 years, with 48.4 cm recorded between November 30 and December 1.
Meanwhile, Electric Multiple Unit (EMU) train services resumed normal operations across suburban districts of Chennai on December 1. These services had been disrupted on the previous day due to the heavy rains brought by Cyclone Fengal.