Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], December 2: In the wake of the devastation caused by Cyclone Fengal, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin announced on Monday that he would visit Viluppuram and Kallakurichi districts to inspect the damage and offer assistance to the affected people.
“I am personally visiting Viluppuram and Kallakurichi to assess the severe damage caused by Cyclone Fengal and help the people,” CM Stalin shared in a post on X.
The Chief Minister revealed that he had been in regular contact with Tamil Nadu Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister MRK Panneerselvam, who is overseeing rescue operations in Cuddalore district. He also spoke to State Public Works Minister EV Velu to inquire about the situation in Tiruvannamalai district.
To coordinate the response in Krishnagiri district, CM Stalin appointed Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) MLA Muthuswamy and Tamil Nadu Tourism Minister R Rajendran. He also mentioned that he was in constant communication with the Collectors of the affected districts to monitor the ongoing rescue and relief efforts.
“We are working to repair the damage caused by this natural disaster and restore normalcy as soon as possible,” CM Stalin wrote on X.
Cyclone Fengal caused widespread flooding across Tamil Nadu, leaving residents in several districts in distress. Rescue teams, including the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), have been actively evacuating stranded citizens. In Cuddalore, the NDRF, under the leadership of District Collector Balaraman, used boats to rescue people. In the border area of Chinna Gangankuppam, a tree that had fallen on the national highway was cleared by the Tamil Nadu Disaster Rescue team with the help of a JCB machine.
Earlier, CM Stalin visited the State Emergency Operations Centre to oversee relief efforts. He called on the Union government to send a central team to assess the situation and evaluate the crop damage caused by the cyclone. The Chief Minister also visited various locations in the Kolathur assembly constituency, accompanied by Tamil Nadu Revenue and Disaster Management Minister KKSSR Ramachandran and other officials.
As part of ongoing relief efforts, nearly 27,000 people have received food packets from Amma canteens. Additionally, 21 out of Chennai’s 23 subways have been cleared of waterlogging.
Meanwhile, electric multiple unit (EMU) train services resumed normal operations across all suburban districts on December 1, as confirmed by A Elumalai, a Public Relations Officer from the Chennai Division.