Mon Dec 02 01:34:27 UTC 2024: ## Cyclone Fengal Pummels Tamil Nadu, Leaving Trail of Destruction; Other News Highlights
**Chennai, India – December 2, 2024** – Cyclone Fengal, which made landfall near Puducherry on November 30th, weakened on Sunday but left behind a trail of destruction across Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. Torrential rains caused widespread flooding, necessitating army intervention to rescue stranded individuals. Schools and colleges in Puducherry remain closed today, and Madras University postponed Monday’s examinations.
In other news, concerns remain over the unresolved issue of hundreds of tonnes of toxic waste from the 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy still present at the Union Carbide India Limited (UCIL) site. Despite court orders, the waste remains un-disposed of.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi warned of the growing threats posed by digital fraud, cybercrime, and AI technologies, highlighting the potential for deepfakes to disrupt social harmony.
The Border Security Force (BSF) in Tripura reported apprehending 675 illegal immigrants, including 55 Rohingyas, this year, along with significant seizures of contraband.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge criticized the BJP and Prime Minister Modi for divisive politics, urging unity among all religious and caste groups to protect the Indian Constitution. He advocated for a caste census to reveal the true representation of each community.
On a positive note, Grandmaster Arjun Erigaisi achieved a historic milestone, becoming the second Indian after Viswanathan Anand to reach an ELO rating of 2800, securing the fourth spot globally.
Finally, Senegal observed the 80th anniversary of a tragic massacre of African soldiers who fought for France in World War II, only to be killed by French troops in 1944 for demanding fair treatment and pay.
First Piper 