Cyclone Fengal continues to cause major disruptions in southern India, bringing heavy rainfall, flooding, school closures, and travel restrictions across several states. The storm has resulted in at least 16 deaths in Sri Lanka and 3 in India, according to media reports.
The Indian army has been deployed to assist with rescue efforts in Puducherry, which has seen its heaviest rainfall in 30 years. Authorities evacuated nearly 200 people from severely affected areas after the cyclone made landfall on November 30. Flooding has caused widespread power outages and forced most businesses to shut down.
In Tamil Nadu, a 45-year-old man was electrocuted when a power cable fell down, and another man died while attempting to pump out water. The government has pledged compensation for the victims’ families.
Since Sunday, state and national disaster response teams have been working to rescue people stranded by the floods. Tamil Nadu recorded over 40 cm of rain in several areas, described as “unprecedented” by the state’s chief minister.
In Kerala, authorities have imposed restrictions on pilgrims to the popular Sabarimala shrine due to the heavy rain, especially in the Pathanamthitta and Idukki districts. Officials have also warned against entering rivers or trekking in certain forest areas until conditions improve.
Tamil Nadu continues to experience severe flooding, with the Villupuram region inundated and major transportation routes, including the Vikravandi-Mundiyampakkam bridge, submerged. This has led to train service suspensions. While Chennai airport resumed operations on December 1, nearby regions like Cuddalore and Dharmapuri remain cut off, with roads impassable and vehicles swept away.
In Kanchipuram district, overflowing dams have caused further flooding, while the Thenpennai River has severed road connections in Tiruvannamalai. Over 900,000 food packets have been distributed, and around 1,000 people have been sheltered in relief camps.
Karnataka has closed schools and colleges in Mysuru, Kolar, and Chikkaballapur, and Puducherry has extended school closures in Karaikal.
Puducherry’s chief minister stated that a damage report is being prepared for the central government. Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department has issued a red alert for extremely heavy rainfall in parts of Kerala, as the weakened cyclone is expected to intensify again today near the Kerala-Karnataka coast.