The IMD issued a red alert for parts of Tamil Nadu, predicting "isolated extremely heavy rainfall" for the next 24 hours along with warnings for "very heavy rainfall" on October 17 and 18
Heavy rain lashed Chennai and other regions of Tamil Nadu on Tuesday, bringing residential neighbourhoods and roads under knee-deep water and leading to traffic congestion besides affecting public transport services.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a red alert for parts of the state, predicting “isolated extremely heavy rainfall” for the next 24 hours along with warnings for “very heavy rainfall” on October 17 and 18.
#WATCH | Tamil Nadu: Rain lashes parts of Chennai city.(Visuals from Koyambedu area in Chennai) pic.twitter.com/kf2mfGz6fr
— ANI (@ANI) October 15, 2024
In Chennai, which has received heavy downpours since last night, bus services were affected in several areas while Southern Railway announced that four trains were cancelled due to waterlogging between Basin Bridge and Vyasarpadi railway stations. At least eight domestic flights were cancelled as sufficient number of passengers did not turn up to avail services.
In view of heavy rainfall forecast, barring essential services, the state government declared October 16 a holiday for schools, colleges and government for the coastal districts of Chennai, Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram and Chengelpet.
In its advisory, the government asked private establishments to facilitate ‘work from home’ for their employees till October 18 and asked people to check the TN Alert App for weather updates. The Chennai Corporation established a helpline number 1913.
On the heavy rainfall warning in Tamil Nadu, state relief commissioner Rajesh Lakhoni said some parts of Chennai received as high as 16 cm rainfall. He said there is full preparedness for any eventuality and resources have been planned and placed in advance.
“…Around 26 teams of NDRF (National Disaster Response Force) and SDRF (State Disaster Response Force) have been placed in five coastal districts. Boats with manpower also placed. We have identified 300 relief centres in Chennai and around 931 relief centres in neaby areas. This time we are doing centralised cooking… Medical camps are being arranged. We have ensured that all old age homes and homes for the destitute have dry ration for the next 10 days. 80 pregnant women with due deliveries have been admitted to different hospitals,” he said.
#WATCH | Heavy rain triggers severe waterlogging in Pallikaranai and Velachery areas of Chennai in Tamil Nadu pic.twitter.com/PonFx8bgfB— ANI (@ANI) October 15, 2024
What is the situation in Chennai?
As rains and thunderstorms continued, there was a dip in the number of road users in the city and suburbs. Local train operations, including Metro Rail, by and large, remained unaffected till evening.
Some people, who own cars in flood-prone Ram Nagar in Madipakkam parked their vehicles in nearby Velachery bridge, a key part of busy south Chennai, and some, reportedly, moved away from their homes to hotels.
Waterlogging was seen in several places, and the Greater Chennai Corporation said it has been pumping out water into stormwater drains. Civic authorities said trees that fell were immediately removed and heavy-duty motors mounted on tractors have been deployed to clear waterlogging. Boats have also been stationed in vulnerable areas.
Areas like Pallikaranai and Velachery in Chennai were badly affected. In Egmore, MLA I Paranthamen inspected the Poonamallee road amid ongoing restoration work.
#WATCH | Chennai | Egmore MLA I. Paranthamen inspects condition of water logged Poonamallee road and ongoing restoration work amid heavy rains in the city pic.twitter.com/Ei00TRlq3f— ANI (@ANI) October 15, 2024
“…The state govt machinery and corporation officers are in the field amid rainfall alert. 80% to 90% of the work to construct the stormwater drain has been completed in my constituency. There is no inundation or stagnation, which could cause disturbance to normal life… deputy CM has been in the field, he has inspected different parts of Chennai. The CM, deputy CM and all elected representatives are in the field,” he said.
Why the heavy rainfall over Tamil Nadu and adjoining states?
The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) said the low pressure area over the Bay of Bengal turned on October 15 into a well-marked low pressure area and it is likely to become a depression.
“Under its influence, widespread rainfall with isolated heavy to very heavy rain occurred over Tamil Nadu and moderate rain occurred over Puducherry & Karaikal during the past 24 hours,” an RMC bulletin said.
The RMC further said squally weather with 40 to 50 kmph wind speed, gusting to 60 kmph, is likely in north coastal Tamil Nadu on October 16 and fishermen have been advised against venturing into sea.
It said the southwest monsoon withdrew from the entire country on Tuesday, following which the northeast monsoon activity commenced over Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, coastal Andhra Pradesh, Rayalaseema, south interior Karnataka and Kerala.
Here are some features of the current rainfall activity:
- A well-marked low pressure area lies over the central part of the south Bay of Bengal
- Easterly and northeasterly winds set in over southern peninsular India, south and adjoining central Bay of Bengal and extends up to middle tropospheric levels
- Fairly widespread to widespread light to moderate rainfall occurred over the southeast peninsula with isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall observed over Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, coastal Andhra Pradesh, Rayalaseema and Kerala.
What is the state government’s response?
Chief Minister MK Stalin, along with state ministers, inspected work to drain rainwater in flood-prone localities and took civic workers to a tea shop and bought them tea and biscuits and also had tea with them.
He hailed the services of sanitary/civic workers and officials notwithstanding heavy rains and said he will stand shoulder to shoulder with the frontline workers.
Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin inspected several localities, including the Narayanapuram lake near Velachery and authorities said the surplus rain from the lake water drains into channels due to advance desilting work.
He inspected the integrated command and control centre of Chennai Corporation, functioning from its headquarters, the Ripon Building, to review ongoing work to tackle the situation arising out of the rains.
Tamil Nadu DGP Shankar Jiwal visited the State Police Flood Control Room at the operations headquarters and interacted with the six teams of SDRF and reviewed disaster-related equipment.
Since Monday night, Chennai and its suburbs have been experiencing intermittent rains. The chief minister on Monday (October 14) reviewed the preparations taken by authorities to tackle the situation that may arise in view of the heavy rain predicted by the MeT. He directed that the NDRF and SDRF be deployed in advance in the areas prone to be affected.
(With PTI inputs)
