- Monday, December 02, 2024
Normal life was crippled in Puducherry, as the union territory received 46 cm rainfall, bettering the previous best of 21 cm recorded on October 31, 2004
By: Shajil Kumar
AFTER making landfall near Puducherry on November 30, Cyclone Fengal weakened on Sunday, but torrential downpour under its influence paralysed the union territory, with the Army stepping in to evacuate stranded persons in inundated streets.
Normal life was crippled in Puducherry, as the union territory received 46 cm rainfall, bettering the previous best of 21 cm recorded on October 31, 2004.
According to the latest update from the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Cyclone Fengal has weakened into a deep depression.
It is likely to move westwards very slowly and weaken gradually into a depression over north Tamil Nadu during the next 12 hours, it added.
The Indian Army deployed its soldiers and boats and evacuated stranded people.
According to a Defence release, about 200 people were rescued from three different locations in Puducherry, including Krishna Nagar.
Many housing colonies were waterlogged and residents could not step out of the dwellings for hours together. Two-wheelers and cars parked on roads partially submerged in rainwater that entered several houses here, residents said.
All shops and business establishments remained closed and the government set up relief centers to accommodate people evacuated from low-lying areas.
Main thoroughfares and arterial roads were waterlogged disrupting daily life. Farmlands with standing crops bore the brunt of the heavy rain.
Transport services were hit and voluntary organisations like Pondicherry Heritage Round Table 167 volunteered to supplement the efforts of the government to supply food packets to people staying in relief camps.
Tamil Nadu
Meanwhile, in Chennai, Tamil Nadu CM Stalin briefed reporters about the cyclone and its impact in the city and elsewhere.
He pointed out that Villupuram had received heavy rainfall, with Mailam in the district recording 49 cm, followed by Nemmeli at 46 cm and Vanur (41 cm) in the last 24 hours.
“Villupuram has received unprecedented rainfall and we are monitoring the situation,” he said.
With temporary suspension of all train services via Villupuram, hundreds of passengers were affected and a railway official hinted at resumption of services, by complying with safety norms, as and when the condition improved.
The traffic on the key Chennai-Tiruchirappalli national highway, in and around Villupuram, was also hit.
Villupuram town, nearby towns and villages, have borne the brunt of the rain fury and raging flood water gushed towards low-lying areas.
As portions of a bridge was washed away, link to many villages near Aarani in Tiruvannamalai district was cut off.
As regards Chennai, Stalin said that despite heavy rains on Saturday, there was no inundation in many parts due to the precautionary works and desilting activities.
A little over 1000 people have been accommodated in 32 camps and food and water was being provided to them, the chief minister said.
Stalin earlier held a review meeting regarding the rain situation and the rescue and relief efforts of the government.
Operations at the Chennai airport, which had been suspended on Saturday, resumed past midnight but many flights saw cancellations and delays initially, officials said. However, later in the day, operations were normal.
Rains in Karnataka
Bengaluru and other parts of Karnataka will continue to receive rainfall for the next two days owing to Cyclone Fengal, the India Meteorological Department said on Monday.
Bengaluru has been receiving rain since Sunday evening and as per IMD officials, Coastal Karnataka and parts of South Interior Karnataka are likely to experience widespread rainfall today, while light to moderate rainfall on Tuesday.
Rainfall is likely to decrease from the third day onwards in these regions, the officials said.
A yellow alert has been issued for Bengaluru and districts like Hassan, Mandya and Ramanagara today, said C S Patil, India Meteorological Department, Bengaluru director.
An orange alert has been issued for districts like Udupi, Chikmagaluru, Chikkabalbura which is expected to receive very heavy to heavy rainfall, according to IMD officials.
An orange alert means very heavy rain of 11 cm to 20 cm and a yellow alert means heavy rainfall between 6 cm and 11 cm. (PTI)
