Rescue and relief operations by the Indian Army are ongoing in Puducherry and Chennai following the devastation of Cyclone Fengal. The Southern Command of the Indian Army announced that they deployed an additional rescue column from the Madras Engineers Group from Bengaluru to Chennai in response to the rising water levels in low-lying areas after assessing the critical situation with the District Collector of Puducherry. Alongside this, four additional columns are on standby at Wellington and Thiruvananthapuram for immediate deployment as needed.
The army reported successful rescues of over 1,000 stranded individuals, emphasizing their commitment to saving lives amid the calamity. Following a request from the Puducherry District Collector, troops from the Chennai Garrison Battalion commenced relief operations early on December 1. A Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) column, consisting of one officer, six Junior Commissioned Officers (JCOs), and 62 personnel, set out at 2:00 AM. They traveled 160 kilometers overnight, arriving in Puducherry by 5:30 AM. Major Ajay Sangwan led the team, which focused on rescuing stranded civilians from roughly 500 houses in the Krishnanagar area, where water levels had surged to almost five feet in some spots.
In light of severe flooding due to water released from the Veedur Dam on the Sankaraparani River, another relief column was deployed to NR Nagar, Puducherry, at the request of the District Collector. This unit, comprised of 60 personnel, is fully equipped with boats, rafts, medical supplies, and food supplies for efficient response to the needs of residents in affected areas.
Indian Army relief teams have reported that they successfully rescued 600 individuals from various locations, including Krishnanagar, Kuber Nagar, and Jiva Nagar, ensuring the safety of all, including a seven-day-old infant. In addition to rescues, teams distributed food packets, emergency rations, and water while providing medical aid to those injured. The army also acknowledged the support of veterans and local volunteers who joined efforts with them, highlighting the spirit of unity and compassion in serving the residents of Puducherry during this crisis.
Coordinated operations are also being carried out in collaboration with the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), local authorities, the police, and state rescue teams. In critical areas like Krishnanagar and Kuber Nagar, over 100 individuals have been rescued from each site.
The impact of Cyclone Fengal has been severe, resulting in 12 fatalities, flooding over 211,139 hectares of agricultural and horticultural lands, and significant damage to infrastructure, including 1,649 kilometers of electric conductors, 23,664 electric poles, and 997 transformers. Roads, culverts, and tanks have also suffered extensive damage, exacerbating the devastation caused by the cyclone that initially formed as a low-pressure area on November 23 and affected 14 districts across Tamil Nadu.
The cyclone’s first impact brought heavy rain to Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, and Mayiladuthurai, followed by exceptionally heavy rainfall in Chennai and surrounding areas. Its landfall on December 1 particularly devastated regions like Villupuram, Kallakurichi, Cuddalore, and Tiruvannamalai, with wind speeds reaching 90 km/h, further damaging roads and electrical infrastructure.
This natural disaster has led to widespread displacement and disruption, affecting around 69 lakh families and 1.5 crore individuals. Villupuram, Tiruvannamalai, and Kallakurichi experienced more than 50 cm of rainfall in a single day, equivalent to an entire season’s average, leading to severe flooding and extensive damage to agricultural lands and infrastructure.
