Cyclone Fengal, which made landfall near Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, weakened into a deep depression on Sunday. However, heavy rains and floods continued to batter several parts of the state and union territory. Krishnagiri district in Tamil Nadu was among the worst affected, with vehicles being swept off roads into low-lying areas over the past two days.
Visuals from Uthangiri bus station in Krishnagiri revealed severe flooding, submerging buses and other vehicles. Some buses and cars were seen being slowly carried away by the fast-moving floodwaters.
Officials reported that Krishnagiri has been experiencing heavy rainfall for over 14 hours, with Uthangarai recording the highest rainfall overnight.
Rescue Operations Underway
Rescue teams are actively working to evacuate stranded residents in both Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.
Earlier today, the Indian Army successfully rescued an infant trapped in a house submerged by floodwaters in Puducherry. The operation was carried out using an inflatable boat.
Several individuals from IIT Madras are assisting in rescue efforts for a family trapped under a landslide in Tamil Nadu’s Tiruvannamalai district. On Sunday, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) successfully rescued residents in Cuddalore district using boats.
Heavy Rainfall Alert in Tamil Nadu
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a heavy rainfall warning for several districts in Tamil Nadu, including Nilgiris, Erode, Coimbatore, Tirupur, Dindigul, Krishnagiri, Salem, Namakkal, Trichy, Karur, Madurai, and Theni. An ‘orange’ alert has also been issued for heavy rainfall in Karnataka and nearby districts until Tuesday due to severe weather conditions.
In response, all private and government schools and colleges in Tamil Nadu have been closed today.
According to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, over 7,000 individuals have been evacuated statewide and are being sheltered in 147 relief camps.
In Puducherry, water levels in certain areas of Krishna Nagar have risen to nearly five feet, leaving residents of about 500 houses stranded. The Indian Army has rescued over 100 people from the affected areas, officials said.
