Cyclone Fengal kills 3, brings heavy rain in India's coastal areas

At least three people died in separate rain-related incidents in India's Chennai as Cyclone Fengal made landfall on Saturday night along the coastal lines of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, bringing heavy rainfall and triggering inundation of several parts, officials said Sunday.

The cyclonic storm crossed north Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coasts, close to Puducherry with a wind speed of 70 to 80 kilometers per hour (kmph) and gusts of 90 kmph.

The rains caused flooding in low-lying areas and disruption of flights and train services in Chennai.

In Chennai, the highest rainfall of 13.2 centimeters was recorded by the automatic weather station at Jaya Engineering College, followed by Meenambakkam with 11.4 cm and Nungambakkam with 10.4 cm.

The Chennai airport, which was shut for 16 hours due to the cyclone, reopened on Sunday morning, but many flights were cancelled or delayed.

Heavy rainfall has also led to the inundation of residential areas on the outskirts of Puducherry. Trees were uprooted at various places under the impact of the cyclonic storm. Power outages were reported in most of the localities since Saturday.

In the wake of waterlogging, residents could not step out of their houses for hours.

Shops and business establishments remained closed as the local government set up relief centers to accommodate people evacuated from low-lying areas.

Reports said Indian army has rescued more than 100 people in flooded areas in Puducherry.

(Cover: A man pulls his three-wheeler amid heavy wind and rainfall at the Marina Beach in Chennai, India, November 30, 2024. /CFP)