Cyclone Fengal, which made landfall between Puducherry and Tamil Nadu on November 30, diminished on Sunday, but heavy rain continued. The Army intervened to remove people stranded in inundated streets around the union territory. Heavy rains and flooding caused damage in parts of Tamil Nadu as well.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi called Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. K. Stalin and offered all possible assistance in dealing with the water situation and devastation caused by Cyclone Fengal.
Chief Minister Stalin wrote to Prime Minister Modi, demanding Rs 2,000 crore in interim relief from the National Disaster Relief Funds (NDRF) to carry out rescue, relief, and rehabilitation measures in the aftermath of the Cyclone’s widespread and devastating devastation. In his letter to Prime Minister Modi, CM Stalin stated that severe rains and heavy winds caused devastation in many areas across the state, according to Source.
The Chief Minister stated that the disaster claimed the lives of 12 people, flooded 2,11,139 hectares of agricultural and horticultural land, destroyed 1,649 kilometres of electric wires, 23,664 electric poles, and 997 transformers.
It also damaged 9,576 kilometers of roads, 1,847 culverts, and 417 tanks, in addition to extensively damaging infrastructure, residences, and huts.
The Chief Minister stated: “The flood has caused enormous disruptions, inundating huge areas, displacing residents, and severely affecting infrastructure and livelihoods. This disaster has negatively impacted 69 lakh families and 1.5 crore individuals.”
He went on to add: “The districts of Villupuram, Tiruvannamalai, and Kallakurichi, in particular, received rainfall equivalent to an entire season’s average – more than 50 cm in a single day, resulting in widespread flooding and severe damage to infrastructure and crops.”
After describing the initiatives taken by the State government to lessen the calamity’s effects, CM Stalin stated that an initial assessment estimated that Rs 2,475 crore will be necessary for temporary restoration operations.
CM Stalin stated, “Despite our best efforts, the scope of this calamity has surpassed the State’s resources, and we urgently want financial assistance to manage the aftermath from this natural disaster. Given the scale of the devastation and the urgent need for repair, I respectfully request that Rs 2,000 crore in interim aid be released from the National Disaster Response Fund immediately.”
He stated that this help will considerably benefit emergency restoration and rehabilitation efforts.The Chief Minister also urged Prime Minister Modi to form a centralized committee to conduct a thorough assessment of the damage.
Puducherry Chief Minister N Rangasamy said that families of those who lost loved ones owing to the storm and rainfall will receive a ₹5 lakh compensation. He stated that 3.54 lakh families under the public distribution system will receive ₹5,000 each, directly paid to their bank accounts.
Bengaluru has been experiencing rain since Sunday evening, and according to IMD officials, Coastal Karnataka and areas of South Interior Karnataka are anticipated to see extensive rainfall today, while light to moderate rainfall.