Puducherry has been hit hard by an unprecedented deluge, receiving a staggering 48.4 centimeters of rainfall within a 24-hour period ending at 8:30 AM on Sunday, December 1. This rainfall figure marks the highest 24-hour cumulative total in the last three decades, as confirmed by the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
The relentless and heavy downpour, attributed to the impact of Cyclone Fengal, has led to severe flooding throughout the union territory. In response to the escalating crisis, the Indian Army has been mobilized to assist in rescue operations. Troops from the Garrison Battalion in Chennai, which houses the Dakshin Bharat Area Headquarters, have successfully rescued over a hundred civilians stranded in various locations across Puducherry.
According to an official statement from the Army, the Area Headquarters received a call for assistance from the district collector and immediately dispatched a Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) team. Comprising one officer, six junior commissioned officers, and 62 men, this unit was led by Major Ajay Sangwan. They primarily focused their efforts in the Krishnanagar region, where reports indicated that water levels had surged to around 5 feet in certain areas. The rescue teams began their operations shortly after arriving in Puducherry at 5:30 AM on December 1, initiating their first mission at 6:15 AM. Rescue work remains ongoing, according to updates from the Additional Directorate General of Public Information (ADGPI).
Local residents have reported dire conditions, with water infiltrating many homes across the city. In some neighborhoods, the water level has risen to hip height, leaving residents trapped without access to pumps or essential supplies. Eyewitness accounts indicate heavily flooded streets, uprooted trees, abandoned shops, and numerous individuals being evacuated by boat from submerged homes.
As the situation continues to unfold, uncertainty lingers regarding the cyclone’s landfall timing. The IMD has indicated that Cyclone Fengal made landfall near Puducherry on November 30 at around 10:30 PM. However, prominent private weather analysts like Pradeep John and Chennai Rains suggest that the storm actually crossed the coast later, between 10:30 AM and 11:00 AM on December 1. The Regional Meteorological Department has reported that the cyclone’s eye is currently situated close to Villupuram, resulting in continued heavy rain in the area. Presently, the storm is located approximately 40 kilometers east of Villupuram, prompting ongoing concern and monitoring of weather patterns in the region.
