Sun Dec 01 05:03:37 UTC 2024: ## Cyclone Fengal Pummels Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, Leaving Trail of Heavy Rainfall
**Chennai, December 1, 2024** – Cyclone Fengal made landfall between 10:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. on Saturday, November 30th, bringing torrential rain and strong winds to North Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. The storm, which initially began crossing the coast at 5:30 p.m., packed winds of 70-80 kmph gusting to 90 kmph.
Mayilam in Villupuram district bore the brunt of the storm, recording an astounding 50 cm of rainfall in the 24 hours ending at 8:30 a.m. on Sunday. Puducherry followed closely behind with 46 cm, a record high for the region, surpassing the previous record of 21 cm set in October 2004. Several other districts experienced exceptionally heavy rainfall, including Tiruvannamalai (17.6 cm), Cheyyar (16 cm), and others.
As of 6:30 a.m. on Sunday, the cyclone, now centered near Puducherry, had slowed its movement. Meteorological officials predict it will gradually weaken into a deep depression over the next few hours.
A red alert has been issued for Tiruvannamalai, Kallakurichi, Villupuram, Cuddalore, and Perambalur districts in Tamil Nadu, and Puducherry, warning of moderate to intense rainfall. Other districts are expected to experience lighter to moderate rainfall. The situation is being closely monitored. Reports of water stagnation, particularly in Puducherry’s Kamaraj Salai, have emerged.
First Piper 