Heavy rainfall and widespread damage continues as Cyclone Fengal, now a low pressure area, disrupts life across southern India. Rising to the Arabian Sea by December 3, the system will shift over the Kerala state and intensify further, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) warned.
Much of the country was still widely affected, with flooded streets and major disruptions in Puducherry, which is where the cyclone made landfall on November 30. All schools and colleges are closed for December 3 until further notice, authority has said. Puducherry received 48% more rainfall than expected, said Chief Minister N. Rangaswamy, who announced a relief assistance of ₹5,000 for affected ration card holders. Army and NDRF teams have also been evacuating residents from flood prone areas near the river Sankaraparani.
Kerala has issued red alerts for Kasaragod, Kannur, Wayanad, Kozhikode and Malappuram, forecasting very heavy to extremely heavy rain over the coming days. Residents had been urged to remain vigilant by State Revenue Minister K. Rajan. Five NDRF teams are on standby in the state, including one in Sabarimala, and NDRF teams are ready to intervene should necessary, NDRF officials said. As a result the IMD has also warned people against fishing off the coasts of Kerala and Karnataka due to rough seas. Holidays have been declared in several districts, and displaced people are in relief camps in Kottayam.
The Pazhassi Dam shutters in Kannur will open on December 3 to release excess water which authorities in the area warn residents downstream to keep a watch on. Fengal’s remnants are also producing heavy rains in Tamil Nadu as well as southern interior Karnataka. The IMD expects the system to regenerate over the southeast Arabian Sea and extend the rain spell in coastal regions.
Authorities are still trying to contain damage and keep people safe as the rain continues.
