Cyclone Fengal: Tamil Nadu, Puducherry brace for landfall today

New Delhi: Cyclone Fengal pronounced ‘Feinjal’, formerly a deep depression over the Bay of Bengal, has intensified into a cyclonic storm and is expected to make landfall near Puducherry on Saturday afternoon.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a warning, predicting wind speeds of 70-80 km per hour, gusting up to 90 kmph, as the storm crosses the Tamil Nadu coast between Karaikal and Mamallapuram.

Cyclonic Storm #Fengal has formed amidst a frozen lake of overflowing convection, pushing his most intense thunderstorm cloud tops to temperatures of -95 C (-140 F) while spinning up with 65 kph (40 mph) 3-min. sustained winds. While Fengal’s heaviest rains have remained out at… pic.twitter.com/JIEHQO9PAU

— Backpirch Weather (@BackpirchCrew) November 29, 2024

The IMD forecasts isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall, with extremely heavy rainfall in several districts. Villuppuram, Tiruvallur, Chennai, Cuddalore, Kancheepuram, Chengalpattu, and  Kallakurichi districts in Tamil Nadu, along with Puducherry, are expected to be affected by the storm’s fury.

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Heavy to very heavy rainfall is also predicted for several other districts in Tamil Nadu, including Nagapattinam, Vellore, Tiruvannamalai, Thanjavur, Ranipet,  Perambalur, Tiruvarur, Ariyalur, and Mayiladuthurai.

At 2:30 pm on Friday, Cyclone Fengal was located approximately 270 km east-southeast of Puducherry and 300 km southeast of Chennai. The IMD projects a west-northwestward movement before making landfall.

“The deep depression over southwest Bay of Bengal moved north-northwest at 13 kph in the past six hours (and has) intensified into Cyclonic Storm Fengal… at 2.30 pm (on November 29) it lay 270 km east-southeast of Puducherry and 300 km southeast of Chennai,” the IMD said in a statement.

“It is likely to move west-northwest and cross north Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coasts between Karaikal and Mamallapuram (but closer to Puducherry) as a Cyclonic Storm during the afternoon 20th November…”

Authorities in Puducherry and the affected Tamil Nadu districts are taking proactive measures to minimise the damage due to the landfall. The local administration has urged the people living in the areas listed in the prone areas to remain indoors and all schools and colleges will be closed on Saturday. District Collector A Kulothungan in Puducherry has held meetings with various departments to coordinate the response efforts.

VIDEO | Tamil Nadu: Cyclonic storm ‘Fengal’ over Bay of Bengal is likely to make a landfall on today afternoon, close to Puducherry, with wind speed upto 90 kmph, the India Meteorological Department said. Visuals from Mamallapuram coast. #CycloneAlert #CycloneFengal

(Full… pic.twitter.com/1LMKwkiQ7P

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) November 30, 2024

The Department of Revenue and Disaster Management has established multiple communication channels, including toll-free numbers (112 and 1077) and a WhatsApp number (9488981070) for distress calls. As a precautionary measure, over 4,153 fishing boats have returned to shore, and 2,229 relief camps stand ready for deployment if necessary. Meanwhile, 471 people from 164 families are housed in six relief centres in the Tiruvarur and Nagapattinam districts, the state government said.

The government has also mobilised resources, including boats, generators, motor pumps, and other essential equipment to deal with the post-landfall crisis. National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and state teams have been deployed across vulnerable districts, ensuring preparedness for any eventuality. Also, the senior officials from disaster management, district administration, medical department and police are stationed in respective districts to supervise relief operations and coordinate with local authorities.