The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) confirmed on Friday that the deep depression over the Southwest Bay of Bengal has intensified into a cyclonic storm, named ‘Fengal’ (pronounced as ‘Feinjal’). The storm is expected to make landfall near Puducherry on November 30, with wind speeds ranging from 70 to 80 km/h, gusting up to 90 km/h.
The IMD’s latest bulletin states that as of 2:30 PM IST on November 29, the storm was located approximately 260 km east of Nagapattinam, 270 km east-southeast of Puducherry, and 300 km southeast of Chennai. The cyclonic storm is forecast to move northwestward and cross the Tamil Nadu-Puducherry coastline, close to Puducherry, by the afternoon of November 30.
In preparation for the storm, the Minister for Revenue and Disaster, KKSSR Ramachandran, chaired a meeting at the State Emergency Operations Centre to review relief and safety measures. The state government has already taken steps to mitigate the storm’s impact. As of now, 4,153 boats have been brought back to shore, and 2,229 relief camps have been set up, with 471 people from 164 families accommodated in relief centers in Tiruvarur and Nagapattinam districts.
The IMD has issued a warning for heavy to very heavy rain, with isolated locations in Chennai, Puducherry, and several surrounding districts likely to experience extremely heavy rainfall. These districts include Tiruvallur, Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram, Villuppuram, Kallakurichi, and Cuddalore. Heavy rain is also expected in parts of Ranipet, Tiruvannamalai, Vellore, Perambalur, Ariyalur, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Mayiladuthurai, and Karaikal.
Authorities are on high alert, with National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams and state personnel deployed in vulnerable areas, including Nagapattinam, Mayiladuthurai, Tiruvarur, Cuddalore, Thanjavur, Chengalpettu, and Chennai. The state government has mobilized boats, generators, and other essential equipment to ensure a swift response in the affected districts.
Meanwhile, Chennai and its neighboring districts, including Chengelpet, Kanchipuram, and Tiruvallur, along with the delta regions of Mayiladuthurai, Nagapattinam, and Tiruvarur, have been experiencing light to moderate rainfall, with some areas receiving heavy showers.
The public is urged to stay updated on the latest weather advisories and follow safety instructions issued by local authorities.
