Cyclone Fengal: Puducherry Seeks Central Aid For Recovery

The Central team visited Puducherry to assess the damage caused by the cyclone and accompanying heavy rains. According to a release from the Chief Minister’s office, the report sought financial assistance from the Central government to aid recovery efforts. However, the release did not specify the exact amount of relief requested in the report.

Earlier, CM Rangasamy had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah with an interim damage assessment. He estimated losses amounting to ?614.88 crore and requested an immediate release of ?600 crore as the first installment to address the pressing needs of the affected regions.

On Sunday, the Central team split into two groups to conduct on-site inspections. One group visited villages and cyclone-affected areas in Puducherry taluk, while the other assessed the interior villages in Bahoor taluk, focusing on the damage to roads and bridges. These inspections provided the team with a firsthand view of the havoc caused by Cyclone Fengal.

During the meeting, the Chief Minister, along with key officials, briefed the Central team on the extent of the destruction. Among those present were Chief Secretary Sharat Chouhan, District Collector A. Kulothungan, Speaker R. Selvam, Local Administration Minister Theni C. Djeacoumar, and Home Minister A. Namassivayam, Civil Supplies Minister P.R.N. Tirumourugan, and officials from the Revenue and Disaster Management Department.

The Central team is scheduled to meet Lieutenant Governor K. Kailashnathan on Monday for further discussions, as per official sources.

In response to the calamity, the Puducherry government has declared the regions of Puducherry, Karaikal, and Yanam as natural calamity-affected areas. To provide immediate relief, the Chief Minister announced several measures, including a payment of ?5,000 to all families covered under the Public Distribution System (PDS). Additionally, dairy farmers who lost milch animals and calves in the floods are set to receive compensation.

Cyclone Fengal’s impact has highlighted the vulnerability of Puducherry to such natural disasters, underscoring the urgent need for robust disaster management and financial support to rebuild the affected communities. The Central team’s findings and subsequent decisions will be critical in determining the extent of relief and recovery assistance provided to the union territory.

(This article is a reworked version of a PTI feed.)