Friday, November 3, 2017


Heavy rains disrupt normal life in Chennai, schools shut

Abdullah Nurullah| TNN | Updated: Nov 3, 2017, 00:21 IST



The Tamil Nadu State disaster management authority has advised citizens to stay indoors.

CHENNAI: The city received its heaviest spell of rain since the 2015 floods on Thursday evening. Weather blogger Pradeep John has predicted another spell of rain to hit the city within hours. The incoming spell of rain is going to be very intense, John said.

There was waterlogging in several areas and public transport was hit. Several commuters were stranded on the roads as rains led to traffic chaos.

So far the city has received 13.6cm of rainfall since evening. The Tamil Nadu state disaster management authority advised residents of Chennai to stay indoors.



The administration has ordered schools to remain closed on Friday.

Earlier today, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami appointed ministers to oversee rain relief work here and in neighbouring Kancheepuram.


The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has advised people living in lower areas to move to higher ground where people and animals can take shelter. People have been advised to avoid entering flood waters and if need be, use footwear. "Stay away from sewerage lines, gutters, drains, culverts,etc," NDMA tweeted.

Within a couple of hours on Thursday evening, several parts of the city including Nungambakkam, Saidapet, Neelankarai, Mogappair, Chromepet and Velachery received about more than 10cm rainfall. Northern parts of the city received relatively lesser rainfall. Weathermen have predicted more rain until the weekend.

Several arterial roads witnessed heavy traffic from 8pm, leaving commuters stranded.

Area cyclone warning centre director S Balachandran said, "A low pressure area has formed over the southwest Bay of Bengal near Sri Lanka. This will bring heavy rainfall in the some of the southern and delta districts on Friday. Chennai will get one or two spells of light showers."

Southern and delta districts received heavy showers during the 24 hours from 8.30am on Wednesday to 8.30am on Thursday. Palayamkottai (Tirunelveli district) received 13cm rainfall, Tiruchendur (Toothukudi district) 9cm, Chidambaram AWS (Cuddalore district), Kelambakkam (Kancheepuram district) and Srivaikuntam (Toothukudi district) received 8cm each, Nagapattinam (Nagapattinam district), Cheranmahadevi (Tirunelveli district) and Vedaranyam (Nagapattinam district) received 7cm each.

Since October, the city has recorded excess rainfall at Nungambakkam and Meenambakkam. In the 14 hours until 10.30pm on Thursday, the city recorded 12cm rainfall at Nungambakkam. Ennore recorded 3cm rainfall, Madhavaram 2.5cm and Meenambakkam 9cm.

No comments:

Post a Comment

news today 23.10.1024