Sun Dec 01 08:43:18 UTC 2024: ## Cyclone Fengal Brings Record Rainfall and Electrocutions to South India
**Chennai, December 1, 2024** – Cyclone Fengal made landfall along the Tamil Nadu-Puducherry coast on Saturday evening, bringing record rainfall and causing widespread disruption but less damage than initially feared. The storm, which dumped 44 cm of rain in Puducherry – its highest in 30 years – led to the electrocution of three people in separate incidents.
The Chennai airport was shut for 16 hours due to flooding, resuming operations at 1 am on Sunday after the inundation of two runways and a taxiway. Numerous flights were cancelled or delayed. Puducherry recorded an unprecedented 46 cm of rainfall, exceeding even the 21 cm recorded on October 31, 2004. Other areas also experienced significant rainfall, with Cuddalore receiving 23 cm.
Despite the heavy downpour, Tamil Nadu Minister KKSSR Ramachandran reported no immediate reports of major damage. Chief Minister MK Stalin and his deputy conducted inspections and virtual meetings with officials to assess the situation and coordinate relief efforts. Over 1,700 motor pumps were deployed to clear waterlogging in various locations.
The Indian Army played a crucial role in rescue operations, with a team rescuing over 100 people from flooded areas in Puducherry. Authorities had preemptively shifted residents in vulnerable areas to safety shelters, including schools and colleges designated as relief centers. While public transport was significantly impacted, the cyclone weakened into a deep depression within hours of making landfall, mitigating the anticipated widespread destruction.
First Piper 