Sat Nov 30 05:36:15 UTC 2024: ## Cyclone Fengal: Heavy Rains Lash Tamil Nadu, Puducherry Braces for Landfall

**Chennai, November 30, 2024** – Heavy rains and gusty winds battered northern Tamil Nadu today as Cyclone Fengal barrels towards the coast, with landfall expected near Puducherry this evening. The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC), Chennai, has issued a red alert for seven coastal districts, predicting isolated extremely heavy rainfall. Schools and colleges in Chennai, Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram, and Chengalpattu districts are closed, and IT companies are encouraged to allow employees to work from home. Public transport on East Coast Road (ECR) and Old Mahabalipuram Road (OMR) is temporarily suspended.

Cyclone Fengal has defied typical weather patterns, persisting longer than the average lifespan of a Bay of Bengal cyclonic storm before intensifying. The unusual duration has surprised meteorologists. Puducherry’s district administration has sent SMS alerts to over 1.2 million residents, urging vigilance and reporting that evacuations from low-lying areas have been completed, with shelters and food supplies prepared.

The impact is widespread. Chennai has experienced significant rainfall, with waterlogging reported in several areas. Indigo has temporarily suspended flight operations, and Sri Lankan Airlines has cancelled a Colombo-Chennai-Colombo flight. EMU train services in Chennai are operating at reduced frequency. Nellore city in Andhra Pradesh is also experiencing heavy rainfall. Over 470 people have been moved to relief camps in Nagapattinam and Tiruvarur districts. More than 4,100 fishing boats have returned to port.

Sri Lanka has also been severely affected by the deep depression that spawned Fengal, with 15 deaths and over 450,000 people impacted by floods, strong winds, and landslides. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) advises fishermen not to venture into the sea and urges the public to avoid beaches. Tourist spots in Puducherry are closed as a precaution. The Tamil Nadu government has established toll-free numbers and a WhatsApp number for distress calls. Precautionary measures to prevent electrocution have been advised by the Chief Electrical Inspectorate.

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