Cyclone Fengal: Bodies Of 7 People Buried By Mudslide Recovered In Tiruvannamalai, Rs 5L Ex-Gratia Announced

Three neighbourhood children, all aged below 14, were also inside the house located at VOC Nagar, Tiruvannamalai when it was crushed under mud and rocks. 

Rescue efforts began immediately after the tragedy. Around 39 personnel from NDRF along with police and fire service teams conducted a relentless search for the victims.

Source : PTI

As part of the havoc caused by torrential rains from Cyclone Fengal, seven people, including a family of four and three neighborhood children, lost their lives after a massive boulder rolled down a hilltop and buried their house in VOC Nagar, Tiruvannamalai, on December 1. The mishap occurred after heavy rains triggered a mudslide on the Annamalaiyar Hill, dislodging a boulder that crashed onto the house.

The deceased have been identified as Rajkumar (32), his wife Meena (27), their son, and daughter. Three neighbourhood children, all aged below 14, were also inside the house when it was crushed under mud and rocks. 

#WATCH | Tamil Nadu: Visuals from Tiruvannamalai where 7 people, including 5 children, died when a huge rock fell on their house, following continuous rainfall because of #FengalCyclone.

4 bodies have been recovered and sent to the hospital. Deputy CM Udhayanidhi Stalin… pic.twitter.com/YsOgDJFCJy

— ANI (@ANI) December 3, 2024

The rescue efforts started immediately after the tragedy. Around 39 personnel from National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) along with police and fire service teams were pressed into a relentless search for the victims. However, despite their best efforts, only the bodies of all seven were recovered from the debris, district Collector D. Bhaskar Pandian confirmed.

According to a statement from the administration, Rajkumar realised that a tree had fallen on his house during the heavy rain. When he tried to open the door, the massive boulder rolled down, completely burying the house under mud and rocks.

The relatives of the deceased have took out a protest. 

#WATCH | Tamil Nadu: Relatives of the family of 7 people, who died in landslide in Tiruvannamalai, sit on road and mourn their demise. pic.twitter.com/CNhCiomJzA

— ANI (@ANI) December 3, 2024

CM Stalin Announces Compensation

Expressing profound grief over the loss of lives, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin announced a solatium of Rs 5 lakh each for the kin of the deceased. “I express my deepest condolences and sympathies to the bereaved families. I have also ordered to provide Rs five lakh each to the kin of the deceased from the Chief Minister’s Public Relief Fund,” the Chief Minister said in a statement.

The government also emphasized its commitment to providing assistance to those affected by Cyclone Fengal and taking preventive measures to avoid similar tragedies in vulnerable areas.