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The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) has issued a stark warning for the coastal districts of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry: heavy to very heavy rainfall is expected on December 11 and 12. The districts stretching from Cuddalore to Ramanathapuram are predicted to bear the brunt of this impending weather event. This forecast comes on the heels of the devastating Cyclone Fengal, which recently ravaged the region, leaving a trail of destruction and highlighting the vulnerability of the coastal areas to severe weather phenomena. The memory of Cyclone Fengal serves as a sobering reminder of the potential consequences of such storms, emphasizing the need for preparedness and effective disaster response mechanisms.
Cyclone Fengal, active from November 29th to December 1st, caused widespread devastation across 14 districts in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. The human cost was significant, with 12 reported deaths. The economic impact was equally profound, with 211,139 hectares of agricultural and horticultural land inundated, resulting in substantial losses for farmers. The storm's fury also inflicted significant damage on infrastructure: 1,649 kilometers of electric conductors, 23,664 electric poles, and 997 transformers were damaged. Roads, culverts, and tanks also suffered extensive damage, with 9,576 kilometers of roads, 1,847 culverts, and 417 tanks affected. Homes and other infrastructure were also severely impacted by the cyclone's wrath.
The scale of the disaster was truly immense. The Tamil Nadu government reported that 69 lakh families and 1.5 crore individuals were negatively affected. The severity of the rainfall in certain districts was particularly alarming. Villupuram, Tiruvannamalai, and Kallakurichi experienced over 50 centimeters of rainfall in a single day – an amount equivalent to an entire season's average rainfall. This extreme rainfall led to severe flooding, causing widespread damage to crops and infrastructure, exacerbating the already dire situation. The catastrophe prompted Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin to request immediate assistance of Rs 2,000 crore from the National Disaster Response Fund as interim relief, underscoring the urgent need for substantial financial support for recovery and rebuilding efforts.
In response to the Chief Minister's plea, an inter-ministerial central team was dispatched to assess the damage across the affected districts. The Tamil Nadu government submitted an initial damage assessment report, estimating the required relief and reconstruction funds at Rs 2,475 crore. The Central government has since sanctioned Rs 944 crore as interim relief. The central team, headed by Rajesh Gupta, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs, arrived in Chennai on Friday evening to conduct a thorough assessment of the situation. Meetings were held with Chief Minister Stalin and senior state government officials to discuss the recovery and reconstruction plans, highlighting the collaborative effort between the state and central governments in addressing the aftermath of Cyclone Fengal.
The impending heavy rainfall forecast raises serious concerns about the potential for further damage and disruption. Given the recent devastation caused by Cyclone Fengal and the already saturated ground conditions in many areas, the predicted rainfall poses a significant risk of renewed flooding and landslides. The authorities are likely to implement emergency measures to minimize potential harm, including issuing evacuation orders for vulnerable populations and deploying rescue and relief teams to affected areas. The long-term recovery and resilience-building efforts following Cyclone Fengal are crucial to mitigate the impacts of future weather events. This includes investments in robust infrastructure, early warning systems, and community-based disaster preparedness programs. The coming days will be critical in determining the extent of the impact of the predicted heavy rainfall and the effectiveness of the ongoing recovery and preparedness measures.
The experience of Cyclone Fengal serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerability of coastal communities to extreme weather events, emphasizing the urgent need for proactive measures to enhance resilience and preparedness. This includes strengthening infrastructure to withstand severe weather, investing in improved drainage systems to prevent flooding, and enhancing early warning systems to provide timely alerts to communities at risk. Furthermore, community education and preparedness programs are essential in empowering individuals and communities to effectively respond to and mitigate the impacts of future disasters. The combined efforts of government agencies, local communities, and international organizations are critical in ensuring that the affected regions can recover effectively and build a more resilient future in the face of increasing climate change impacts.
Source: Heavy Rains Predicted In Coastal Districts Of Tamil Nadu, Puducherry On December 11