Chicago December 1, 2024
Three people lost their lives in separate rain-related accidents in Chennai as Cyclone Fengal, also known as ‘Feinjal,’ made landfall on the Tamil Nadu-Puducherry coast Saturday evening. The cyclone brought heavy rain and flooding to the region. Despite the severe weather, there were no major reports of damage in Tamil Nadu or Puducherry.
In fact, Puducherry recorded 46 cm of rain, the highest in the last 30 years. Tamil Nadu saw 44 cm of rain, which also marked the heaviest rainfall in three decades.
The Chennai airport was shut down for 16 hours due to the cyclone but reopened early Sunday morning at 1 am. However, many flights were canceled or delayed. The first flight to land after the reopening was Kuwait Airways at 4:08 am, while the airline’s flight took off again at 5:18 am.
The cyclone stayed over the northern Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coasts, but it was expected to weaken into a deep depression within the next few hours, according to the India Meteorological Department. Other areas like Cuddalore, Yercaud, and Vellore also experienced significant rainfall, with several regions seeing over 10 cm of rain. Authorities moved vulnerable people to safer shelters as a precaution.
