7 of a familly killed in Cyclone Fengal triggered landslide

A deadly landslide struck Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu, on Sunday evening, leaving seven people dead, including five children. The incident occurred at 4:30 pm when a massive boulder, loosened by incessant rainfall from Cyclone Fengal, crashed into a house on the lower slopes of Annamalaiyar Hill. The tragedy has plunged the temple town into shock, as rescue operations continue amid difficult weather conditions.

Rescue teams, including local authorities and experts from the Indian Institute of Technology, Chennai, have been tirelessly working to retrieve bodies and stabilize the area. So far, four bodies have been recovered, while heavy rains and another precariously perched boulder have hampered operations.

Adding to the distress, a second landslide struck the area near a temple on Monday afternoon. Fortunately, no casualties were reported in this incident, but it heightened concerns about the safety of residents in the region. The relentless rainfall has complicated relief efforts, with waterlogging and mudslides making the terrain even more treacherous.

Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin visited the cyclone-affected areas on Monday, including Dharmapuri district, to assess the damage and oversee relief efforts. In Tiruvannamalai, Stalin met with the affected families and announced an ex-gratia payment of ₹5 lakh for each bereaved family. He pledged that all necessary steps would be taken to restore normalcy in the region.

Speaking to the media, Stalin remarked, “The unprecedented rains have caused severe damage, especially in Tiruvannamalai. As per the Chief Minister’s orders, we are prioritizing relief efforts to ensure affected families receive immediate support.”