Tamil Nadu CM seeks Rs 2000 crore from NDRF, says cyclone Fengal has wreaked "unprecedented havoc" in 14 districts

Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], December 2 : Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has said that Cyclone Fengal has wreaked unprecedented havoc across 14 districts of Tamil Nadu, affecting 1.5 crore people and urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to release Rs 2000 crore from National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) immediately for restoration and rehabilitation work.
He also urged the Centre to depute a central team to undertake a comprehensive assessment of damages.
He said the cyclone has inundated 2.11 lakh hectares of farmland and has damaged critical infrastructure in the state.
"Cyclone Fengal has wreaked unprecedented havoc across 14 districts of Tamil Nadu, affecting 1.5 crore people, inundating 2.11 lakh hectares of farmland, and damaging critical infrastructure. Given the magnitude of destruction, I urge Hon'ble @PMOIndia Thiru. @NarendraModi to release Rs2000 crore from the NDRF immediately to aid emergency restoration and rehabilitation efforts," Stalin wrote on X.
https://x.com/mkstalin/status/1863596789556969928
Stalin said a dedicated workforce comprising 38,000 government officials and 1,12,000 trained first responders are actively engaged in rescue and relief operations.
He said the state government has estimated that Rs 2,475 crore is required for temporary restoration efforts. "Despite our best efforts, the scale of disaster has overwhelmed the state's resources," he said.
The remnants of the cyclone are also expected to bring heavy rainfall to some districts of Tamil Nadu.
India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a heavy rain alert for several parts of south India, including North interior Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka, for Tuesday
According to the IMD, the low-pressure area is likely to emerge into the southeast and adjoining east-central Arabian Sea off the north Kerala-Karnataka coasts around December 3.
Earlier in the day, Stalin accused the central government of not allowing MPs to discuss the cyclone's impact in Parliament.
"In Parliament, MPs were not allowed to speak about Cyclone Fengal. As part of our responsibility, we are assessing the damages and will send a report. That is our duty and responsibility. It is also their responsibility to respond, but they are refusing to do so. Despite this, we are doing our best," he told reporters in Chennai.
He also criticized the Leader of the Opposition Edappadi K Palaniswami, saying that while the AIADMK leader continues to make accusations.
"Opposition leader Edappadi K Palaniswami's only responsibility seems to be levelling accusations against us. However, people know under which government welfare schemes are implemented effectively," the Chief Minister added.