Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for immediate financial assistance of Rs 2,000 crore from the National Disaster Relief Funds (NDRF). This interim relief is urgently needed for the rescue, relief, and rehabilitation efforts following the devastation caused by Cyclone Fengal across the state.
In a letter addressed to the Prime Minister, Stalin highlighted the severe impact of the cyclone, which brought torrential rains and heavy winds, causing widespread damage to infrastructure, homes, and livelihoods. The Chief Minister reported that 12 lives have been lost, and over 6.9 million people (1.5 crore individuals) have been affected.
The cyclone inundated 211,139 hectares of agricultural and horticultural land, destroyed 1,649 kilometers of electric conductors, 23,664 electric poles, and 997 transformers. Additionally, 9,576 kilometers of roads, 1,847 culverts, and 417 tanks have been damaged.
The districts of Villupuram, Tiruvannamalai, and Kallakurichi were particularly hard hit, receiving rainfall equivalent to an entire season's average in a single day, resulting in widespread flooding and severe damage to infrastructure and crops.
Stalin informed the Prime Minister that the state government has already initiated relief measures and estimated that Rs 2,475 crore is required for temporary restoration efforts. However, he emphasized that the scale of the disaster has overwhelmed the state's resources, necessitating immediate financial support from the central government.
The Chief Minister also requested the Prime Minister to depute a central team to assess the extent of the damage and urged for further financial assistance to address the long-term impact on infrastructure, agriculture, and livelihoods in the affected areas.