Amid severe flooding in several districts of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry caused by Cyclone Fengal, the Indian Army conducted extensive rescue operations on Sunday. These missions focused on multiple flood-hit areas in Puducherry, specifically in Krishna Nagar, Kuber Nagar, and Jiva Nagar, with the aim of evacuating residents trapped by the rising waters. In these areas alone, rescuers successfully saved over 200 lives, with ongoing efforts in Jiva Nagar where 30 soldiers are currently deployed.
Puducherry’s Chief Minister, N Rangasamy, reported that the city experienced 50 centimeters of rainfall overnight, which significantly contributed to the flooding. In a statement to ANI, he emphasized the ongoing efforts of rescue teams to evacuate stranded individuals: “Puducherry has received 50 cm of rainfall, resulting in severe flooding. I am currently inspecting the flood-affected areas. Rescue teams are working tirelessly to evacuate those stranded in the floodwaters.”
The Indian Meteorological Department noted that Cyclone Fengal resulted in a remarkable 48.4 centimeters of rain over a 24-hour period, marking the highest recorded rainfall in Puducherry in the last 30 years. The Indian Army’s Chennai Garrison Battalion was mobilized early Sunday to assist with humanitarian efforts in the region. Responding to a requisition from the Puducherry District Collector at around 1 am, a Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) column was quickly assembled and departed from Chennai at 2 am, covering 160 kilometers to reach Grammer Puducherry by 5:30 am.
Upon arrival, Major Ajay Sangwan and his team were informed of the dire situation in Krishna Nagar, where water levels had risen to nearly five feet, isolating residents of approximately 500 homes. The rescue operations commenced at 6:15 am, yielding immediate results as over 100 individuals were evacuated within the first two hours of operations.
In Tamil Nadu, Chief Minister MK Stalin visited the state emergency operation center to monitor relief efforts. He called upon the Union government to send a central team to assess the situation, particularly regarding crop damage due to Cyclone Fengal. Throughout the state, approximately 27,000 people received food packets from Amma canteens since Saturday, and of the 23 subways in Chennai, 21 have now been cleared of water.
The IMD reported that Cyclone Fengal had been stationary for the last six hours, positioned about 30 kilometers north of Cuddalore and 40 kilometers east of Villupuram. As of the early morning, it was noted that the cyclone had not moved from its position, remaining 120 kilometers south-southwest of Chennai, exacerbating the flooding situation in the region. Efforts continue on multiple fronts as both local authorities and the Indian Army work to assist those affected by the devastating weather events.
