Cyclone Fengal: 3 Killed In Chennai In Rain Incidents, Army Pressed Into Action In Puducherry

Puducherry: Several parts of Chennai were flooded and at least three people were electrocuted in separate rain-related incidents as Cyclone Fengal (pronounced as ‘Feinjal’) made landfall along the Tamil Nadu-Puducherry coast on Saturday evening. The Indian Army rescued over 100 people from a flooded locality in Puducherry. Incessant rain has been pounding Chennai, its nearby districts and Puducherry, since Saturday.

The Chennai airport, which was shut for about 16 hours, reopened at 4 am on Sunday. However, many flights suffered cancellations and delays. Rain has affected public transport. People living in vulnerable areas were shifted to safe shelters by authorities.

The cyclone remained stationary over north Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coasts, according to the IMD on Sunday morning. It was expected to weaken into a deep depression.

Key updates on the cyclone aftermath

• • Puducherry District Collector declared all private schools, and government and private colleges as relief shelters until further orders.
  • Chennai (Meenambakkam and Nungambakkam weather stations) received 11.4 cm of rainfall, while Puducherry recorded its highest rainfall of 46 cm, reported the India Today. This was the highest rainfall received by Puducherry since the Union Territory had received 21 cm of rainfall on October 31, 2004.
  • Mailam in Tamil Nadu’s Villupuram district got 50 cm of rainfall in 24 hours.
  • Two runways and a taxiway were inundated at the Chennai airport after heavy rainfall. As many as 24 domestic services were cancelled and 26 international flights were delayed.

• The Indian Army has rescued more than 100 people in flooded areas in Puducherry. A team comprising an officer, junior commissioned officers and 62 officers of other Ranks were pressed into action. The Army team was given the task to rescue stranded civilians from around 500 houses in the Krishnanagar region of Puducherry where water levels reached five feet in some localities, reported the India Today.