Cyclone Fengal: Puducherry Records Highest Single-Day Rain In 30 Years As Homes Inundated, Trees Uprooted

Cyclone Fengal: Waterlogging disrupted traffic on main roads and affected farmlands with standing crops. Transport services were severely impacted due to heavy rain triggered by cyclone Fengal.

Due to Cyclone Fengal, Puducherry experienced severe rainfall of 46 cm, leading to flooding, power outages, and transportation disruptions.

Source : PTI

Puducherry Chief Minister N Rangasamy stated that the union territory experienced 50 centimetres of rainfall overnight, resulting in extensive flooding as Cyclone Fengal made landfall on Saturday evening. This is the highest rainfall the region has witnessed in the last 30 years.

"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," Chief Minister N Rangasamy told news agency ANI.

The cyclone's impact led to severe waterlogging in residential areas on the outskirts of the boulevard limits, uprooting trees and causing widespread power outages since late Saturday night. Many homes were flooded, leaving residents stranded indoors for hours. Vehicles parked on roads were partially submerged, and rainwater entered several houses, residents said, news agency PTI reported.

Shops and business establishments remained shut, while the government set up relief centres to accommodate evacuees from low-lying areas. Senior citizens remarked that such extreme weather had not been witnessed in over three decades in the union territory.

Waterlogging disrupted traffic on main roads and affected farmlands with standing crops. Transport services were severely impacted. Voluntary organisations like Pondicherry Heritage Round Table 167 joined government efforts, distributing food packets to those in relief camps.

Relief Operations Underway

Officials confirmed that rescue operations were underway in several affected areas, with hundreds of residents evacuated from flood-hit zones. Coordinated efforts by the local administration, police, Army, and specialised rescue teams facilitated the operations.

Relief measures continued in areas like Jeeva Nagar and other vulnerable locations to ensure safety and provide essential aid, they added.

IMD-Regional Meteorological Centre, Additional Director General, S Balachandran told PTI that Cyclone Fengal began making landfall near Puducherry around 5.30 pm on Saturday and finished the process "between 10.30 pm and 11.30 pm." It remains in close vicinity of Puducherry.

"It is likely to move westwards slowly and weaken gradually into a deep depression over north coastal Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry (Puducherry)," Balachandran said.

Meanwhile, Mailam, located in Tamil Nadu's Villupuram district, received 50 cm of rainfall between 8:30 am on November 30 and 5:30 am on Sunday, marking the highest recorded rainfall in the Puducherry region. The previous record was 21 cm of rainfall on October 31, 2004, he added.  

At Chennai airport, operations resumed after midnight on Saturday, but disruptions continued with numerous cancellations and delays. A total of 24 domestic flights were cancelled, while 26 international flights faced delays for both arrivals and departures, according to airport authorities.