​Preparing for the worst: On Cyclone Fengal, the future

It is not uncommon for the southern peninsula to experience heavy or very heavy rainfall during the northeast monsoon, which is also important for Sri Lanka and the Maldives. But when Cyclone Fengal crossed the coast, close to Puducherry, on the night of November 30, neither Tamil Nadu nor Puducherry expected the magnitude of devastation that occurred. In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin said nearly seven million families and 15 million individuals have been affected. Sixteen people, including four in Puducherry, lost their lives. A landslip in Tiruvannamalai claimed seven lives including five children. Unusually heavy rainfall (40 cm-50 cm) was recorded in many places in Puducherry and the northern and northwestern parts of Tamil Nadu on a single day. An initial estimate puts over 2.21 lakh hectares of farmland including 10,000 hectares in Puducherry to be under water. The cyclonic storm later weakened and crossed coastal Karnataka, adjoining east central Arabian Sea. Though many southern parts received rain, Puducherry and several districts in Tamil Nadu bore the brunt. What worsened the plight of people in some districts was the flood in the otherwise-dry South Pennai river; on Monday, it had a flow of 2.4 lakh cusecs. Mr. Stalin has sought an immediate release of ₹2,000 crore from the Centre. The Puducherry Chief Minister, N. Rangasamy, has announced assistance of ₹210 crore.

It is time that the authorities concerned prepared themselves to face extreme weather events, given the rising frequency of very high rainfall. Last year, Kayalpattinam in Thoothukudi received 95 cm, whereas, this time, northern and northwestern districts faced a similar experience. A 2022 monograph by the India Meteorological Department concluded that, on an average, four depressions or cyclonic storms could be expected to affect the southern peninsula every season. The authorities should intensify their concrete and tangible long-term steps beyond the routine ways of providing relief and rehabilitation. Even though Chennai was not hit badly this time, the State government must make public the report of the Advisory Committee for Mitigation and Management of Flood Risk in the Chennai Metropolitan Area, led by former civil servant V. Thiruppugazh. Other measures such as a strengthening of bunds, regular removal of silt from water courses and a relentless drive against encroachment of water bodies must be carried out. Only such steps will be purposeful to the people; taking pride about age-old irrigation management is not enough.