After two days of halted vehicle movement due to severe flooding, traffic on the Cuddalore-Puducherry-Chennai Highway resumed on Wednesday. The flooding, which had brought the critical route to a standstill, was caused by excessive water release from the Thenpennai River, leading to widespread inundation across Cuddalore district in Tamil Nadu. As the floodwaters began to recede, authorities managed to restore normalcy and vehicles are now moving smoothly along the highway.
This temporary disruption is just a glimpse of the broader crisis affecting the region. The recent heavy rains and the subsequent overflow of the Sankaraparani and Thenpennai rivers have submerged roads in Puducherry and surrounding areas such as Villupuram and Cuddalore. The floods wreaked havoc on agricultural fields, inundating both residential and commercial areas. While urban parts of Puducherry have largely bounced back, rural regions continue to battle rising water levels, with communities still stranded and vulnerable to further damage.
In Tamil Nadu’s Villupuram district, the impact was even more severe, as over 300 villages were flooded following relentless rainfall and the opening of the Sathanur Dam. Thousands of hectares of crops were submerged, causing significant losses. Local residents expressed their dissatisfaction with the government’s handling of the situation, particularly the lack of timely warning regarding the release of water from the Veedur Dam. The situation has also raised concerns over disaster preparedness and management in flood-prone regions.
In response to the widespread destruction caused by Cyclone Fengal, Puducherry Chief Minister N. Rangasamy announced a comprehensive relief package worth Rs 210 crore. This includes financial assistance for affected families, compensation for damaged crops, boats, and livestock, and emergency relief for those whose homes were destroyed. The government has also sought an additional Rs 100 crore in interim relief from the central authorities. While these efforts offer some respite to those affected, the region’s long-term recovery will depend on a more sustainable approach to flood management and infrastructure development to mitigate future disasters.
