Puducherry has become the focal point of extensive rescue operations as severe flooding continues to affect the region, driven by the heavy rains from Cyclone Fengal. On Sunday, the Indian Army mobilized multiple rescue teams to assist in the flood-hit areas, including Krishna Nagar, Kuber Nagar, and Jiva Nagar, where floodwaters have risen dramatically.
The Army operations have resulted in the successful evacuation of hundreds of residents from these dangerous areas, with reports indicating that over 200 lives were saved in Krishna Nagar and Kuber Nagar alone. Ongoing efforts in Jiva Nagar involve 30 soldiers working tirelessly to reach those who remain stranded. Authorities are currently extending evacuation operations to other vulnerable localities.
Puducherry Chief Minister N Rangasamy reported that the region received a staggering 50 centimetres of rainfall overnight. This unprecedented deluge has caused significant flooding, leading the Chief Minister to conduct inspections of the inundated areas while rescue teams operate around the clock to assist trapped residents. “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,” Rangasamy explained.
The impact of Cyclone Fengal has been substantial, with the Union Territory recording a total of 48.4 centimetres of rain within a 24-hour period up until 8:30 am on December 1. This figure represents the highest level of 24-hour cumulative rainfall observed in the past three decades, a record stretching from 1995 to 2024.
In response to the escalating crisis, troops from the Chennai Garrison Battalion, operating under the Dakshin Bharat Area of the Indian Army, were swiftly mobilized early Sunday morning. Following a request from the Puducherry District Collector around 1 am, a dedicated Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) unit consisting of one officer, six junior commissioned officers, and 62 other personnel was dispatched. This team traveled through the night, departing Chennai at 2 am and arriving in Puducherry by 5:30 am after covering approximately 160 kilometres.
Led by Major Ajay Sangwan, the response team received briefings about the dire situation awaiting them in Krishna Nagar, where rising water levels had stranded residents in nearly 500 homes. The rescue operations commenced at 6:15 am, with over 100 individuals evacuated in the first two hours.
In Tamil Nadu, Chief Minister MK Stalin also took action in response to the crisis. He visited the state emergency operation centre to review ongoing relief efforts and emphasized the need for federal assistance by requesting that a central team be dispatched to assess the situation and any resultant crop damage caused by Cyclone Fengal. During his visit to various locations within the Kolathur assembly constituency, Stalin noted that nearly 27,000 people had received food packages from Amma canteens since Saturday, and reported that the majority of the water in Chennai’s subways had been cleared, with 21 out of 23 subways returning to functionality.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has monitored Cyclone Fengal closely, reporting that it has remained nearly stationary for the past six hours, positioned approximately 30 kilometres north of Cuddalore and 40 kilometres east of Villupuram. As of 5:30 am, the cyclone was also located approximately 120 kilometres south-southwest of Chennai, indicating ongoing risks for the region as authorities continue their response efforts.
