NE NEWS SERVICE
CHENNAI, PUDUCHERRY, DEC 2
Amid the flooding in Puducherry caused due to Cyclone Fengal, the Indian Army conducted multiple rescue operations on Sunday and Monday across several areas in Puducherry.
Relentless efforts to evacuate stranded individuals continue unabated even after nightfall. Following a thorough assessment of the grim situation and detailed discussions with the District Collector of #Puducherry, an additional rescue column from the Madras… pic.twitter.com/Am4jo7dnNl
— Southern Command INDIAN ARMY (@IaSouthern) December 2, 2024
Over 1,000 stranded persons have been safely evacuated in last two days by the Indian Army from the affected areas in Krishna Nagar, Kuber Nagar, Jiva Nagar & NR Nagar in Puducherry.
Relentless efforts to evacuate stranded individuals continue unabated even after nightfall. Following a thorough assessment of the grim situation and detailed discussions with the District Collector of #Puducherry, an additional rescue column from the Madras… pic.twitter.com/Am4jo7dnNl
— Southern Command INDIAN ARMY (@IaSouthern) December 2, 2024
- Four more columns are being kept on standby at Tiruvananthapuram & Wellington in The Nilgiris
- Puducherry govt announces relief assistance for ration cardholders, farmers & fishermen
- CM Rangasamy seeks Rs 100 crore interim assistance from Centre
A column of 68 personnel from the Indian Army, including an officer and five junior commissioned officers (JCOs) from 16 MADRAS along with relief stores & medical supplies were mobilised from Chennai to Puducherry at 02 am on Sunday.
A second column from 16 MADRAS consisting of 62 personnel including an officer, six junior commissioned officers (JCOs) and 55 other ranks were mobilized on Monday at 2 pm to Puducherry on receipt of another request from the Puducherry District Collector. The second column reported at Emergency Operations Centre established by the Civilian Administration by 7:30 pm.
Due to the opening of flood gates of Veedur Dam on Sankaraparani river, multiple areas have been inundated.
After assessment of the situation and a discussion with the District Collector of Puducherry, one more column from the Madras Engineers Group consisting of an officer, five junior commissioned officers (JCOs) and 60 other ranks is being sent from Bengaluru.
Four more columns are being kept on standby at Tiruvananthapuram & Wellington in The Nilgiris.
Puducherry govt announces Rs 5,000 relief assistance for ration cardholders
Puducherry Chief Minister N Rangasamy on Monday announced a relief package to address the destruction caused by Cyclone Fengal and the torrential rains that recently inundated the union territory. The announcement follows unprecedented rainfall of 48.4 cm in a 24-hour period ending on Sunday, described by Rangasamy as “never before witnessed” in the region’s history.
Rangasamy confirmed that the cyclone claimed four lives, with their families set to receive a compensation of Rs 5 lakh each. The Chief Minister also announced direct financial assistance of Rs 5,000 for each of the 3.54 lakh families under the public distribution system.
Farmers were among the hardest hit, with 10,000 hectares of farmland damaged. Rangasamy assured affected farmers compensation of Rs 30,000 per hectare. Dairy farmers will be compensated with Rs 40,000 for each cow lost and Rs 20,000 for calves, while fishermen who lost boats will receive Rs 10,000. Residents whose huts were destroyed will be compensated with Rs 20,000 for fully damaged huts and Rs 10,000 for partially damaged ones.
Rangasamy noted that Chief Secretary Rajeev Verma had submitted an interim report to the Union Home Ministry, seeking Rs 100 crore in central assistance. He also requested the Centre to dispatch a team to assess the widespread damage across sectors.
As part of immediate relief efforts, 208 relief camps have been set up, providing shelter to displaced residents, and over 85,000 food packets have been distributed. Rangasamy urged residents living near the Sankarabarani and Pannaiyar rivers to relocate to safer areas due to water releases from Tamil Nadu’s Sathanur and Veedur dams.
The Chief Minister was joined at the press conference by Agriculture Minister Theni C Djeacoumar, who echoed the call for urgent support to rebuild Puducherry after the disaster.
