Cyclone Fengal Continues To Batter Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Karnataka; Schools Shut In Many Districts

Even after making landfall on Saturday, Cyclone Fengal continued to bring incessant and heavy rains over north coastal Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. The cyclone has now weakened to a low-pressure area, after the landfall in Puducherry on Nov. 30.

Apart from Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, the southern states of Kerala and Karnataka are also facing heavy rain due to the impact of Cyclone Fengal.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said that Cyclone Fengal is likely to move west-northwestwards over the east-central Arabian sea during the next two days.

In Karnataka, Bengaluru and Mysuru are expected to get rainfall for the next two days, while several districts of Kerala are also expected to see heavy downpours.

In Kerala, a red alert has been issued for Kasaragod, Kannur, Wayanad, Kozhikode and Malappuram on Dec. 3.

According to the IMD, Cyclone Fengal’s extremely slow movement is the reason behind the heavy rainfall in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.

A family of seven died in Tamil Nadu’s Tiruvannamalai on Sunday, as a boulder fell on their home and crushed it as rains from cyclone Fengal prompted landslides. On Monday afternoon, a second landslide also hit the temple town. Chief Minister MK Stalin announced Rs 5 lakh ex-gratia for victims killed in the landslide.

“I express my deepest condolences and sympathy to the families of those who died in this accident and have ordered that each of the families of the deceased be provided with Rs 5 lakh each from the Chief Minister’s General Relief Fund,” he said in a press release.

Wreaking havoc across 14 districts in Tamil Nadu, Cyclone Fengal has already killed 12. As many as 1.5 crore people and 69 lakh families have been affected extensively due to the cyclone and rains, with rescue operations being carried out by the state government. 

Schools across districts in Karnataka, Puducherry and Tamil Nadu will be closed on Dec. 3 due to more rainfall predictions as an aftermath of cyclone Fengal. In Karnataka, schools across Mysuru, Mandya, Chamarajanagar, Kodagu and Chikkamagaluru will remain closed on Tuesday. 

In Tamil Nadu, schools will remain closed in the Ranipet district only.

Meanwhile, Puducherry education minister A Namachivayam announced that government and private schools will be closed in the Union Territory on Tuesday amid heavy rainfall due to Cyclone Fengal.

Annamalai University and its affiliated colleges in Cuddalore, Villupuram, Kallakurichi, and Mayiladuthurai on the other hand have postponed all exams scheduled for Dec. 3. Pondicherry University has also rescheduled exams set to happen between Dec. 3 and Dec. 5.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Monday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking immediate relief of Rs 2,000 crore to cope with losses. He visited Marakkanam in Villupuram to witness the effects of the cyclone on the day. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Stalin on Tuesday and assured of all possible help.

Meanwhile, Puducherry Chief Minister N Rangasamy announced several relief measures.

"Due to the cyclone Fengal, Puducherry received 48% rainfall, which was unexpected. The Puducherry government has decided to provide relief assistance of Rs 5,000 to all ration cardholders affected by the cyclone. Additionally, due to heavy rainfall, 10,000 hectares of crops in the Puducherry state have been damaged. Therefore, we have decided to provide Rs 30,000 per hectare to affected farmers. Cyclone Fengal has left a trail of destruction in Puducherry and Tamil Nadu. The recent floods have damaged 50 boats, and the government has announced a relief package of Rs 10,000 for their repair works,” he said.

The areas around Sankaraparani River were one of the most affected, with 200 homes in NR Nagar being inundated. A rescue operation has been launched by the Indian Army along with the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF).