The rescue operation near the lower slopes of Annamalaiyar Hill was halted by Sunday night due to the rain and the possibility of more landslides.
Seven members of a family, including five children, were feared trapped inside a house beneath a landslide, triggered by heavy rainfall from cyclone Fengal in Tamil Nadu’s Tiruvannamalai on Sunday, said officials.
The local authorities said that they received information about the incident from residents, who claimed that at least seven individuals were feared trapped inside the house.
Responding to the situation, a joint rescue operation was launched by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and local rescue teams near the lower slopes of Annamalaiyar Hill.
The efforts were halted by Sunday night due to the rain and the possibility of more landslides, said the officials, adding that the NDRF team has been asked to take over efforts starting Monday morning. As many as 30 NDRF members are on the spot.
Cyclone ‘Fengal’ made landfall along the coastal lines of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry on Saturday night, causing heavy rainfall and widespread disruption in the region. In Chennai, three people were electrocuted in separate rain-related incidents.
Among the three fatalities, one was a migrant worker who was electrocuted while trying to withdraw cash from an ATM in Chennai. His body was later found floating near the area.
Widespread Disruption In Tamil Nadu & Puducherry
As cyclone Fengal brought heavy rain and strong winds, schools and colleges remained shut in several areas of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. A red alert was issued for Chennai and other coastal districts.
Normal life was thrown out of gear in Puducherry as the Union Territory saw 46 cm of rain, breaking the previous best of 21 cm recorded on October 31, 2004, causing flooding of streets in many areas.
