Cyclone Fengal has unleashed heavy rain and strong winds across India’s Tamil Nadu and Puducherry states, causing widespread disruptions and prompting extensive safety measures.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the storm, currently situated over the Bay of Bengal, is expected to make landfall near Puducherry by the evening of November 30, with wind speeds peaking at 90 km/h.
In Tamil Nadu, the cyclone has led to major interruptions, including the suspension of operations at Chennai Airport due to adverse weather conditions. Indigo Airlines has temporarily grounded its flights, with services set to resume once conditions improve.
The state government has declared a holiday for schools and colleges, urging IT companies to facilitate remote work for employees. Coastal public transport has been halted, and beaches have been closed to ensure public safety.
Authorities evacuated 471 residents from high-risk areas in districts like Tiruvallur and Nagapattinam, relocating them to relief shelters equipped with food and emergency supplies. Rescue teams, including the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), are on standby, while emergency equipment such as boats, pumps, and generators has been deployed. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin reviewed disaster preparedness efforts in Chennai, stressing the importance of a coordinated response.
In Puducherry, authorities have urged residents to stay indoors as the storm approaches. Low-lying areas have been prioritized for evacuations, with control rooms established to monitor the situation. Over 1.2 million people have received SMS alerts advising caution, and shelters have been stocked with food supplies to accommodate evacuees. Streets remain deserted, with heavy rains and high tides causing waterlogging across several areas.
Sri Lanka has also been heavily impacted by severe weather linked to the deep depression in the Bay of Bengal. The Disaster Management Centre reported 15 fatalities, including six schoolchildren, with more than 450,000 people affected by floods, landslides, and strong winds.
In one tragic incident, six students drowned in the eastern town of Sammanthurai while traveling on a tractor due to a lack of buses. A school principal and teacher have been detained in connection with the incident.
Although conditions in Sri Lanka are expected to improve as the storm moves toward India, northern and eastern regions could still experience over 100 mm of rainfall and winds exceeding 60 km/h in the coming days.
This event follows a series of extreme weather incidents, including a bomb cyclone in the northwestern United States that left over 500,000 households without power and Cyclone Asna, which dissipated after affecting coastal Pakistan in September.
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