Rains wreak havoc in Chennai

With more heavy rain forecast for Chennai city over the next 48 hours, Chief Minister M.K. Stalin announced a two-day holiday for schools in Chennai, Tiruvallur, Chengalpet and Kancheepuram districts.

Heavy overnight rain has led to flooding and water-logging in several areas of Chennai. Nungambakkam recorded 21.5 cm of rainfall, the highest recorded in a 24-hour period since 2015.

The IMD has issued an orange alert in 14 districts – Cuddalore, Villupuram, Chennai, Kanchipuram, Chengalpattu, Tiruvallur, Vellore, Ranipet, Tirupattur, Nagapattinam, Mayiladuthurai, Kallakurichi, Tiruvannamalai and Salem.

The CM has appealed to people to postpone their plans to travel to Chennai.

The Greater Chennai Corporation received 2,674 rain-related complaints by 8am on Monday. A total of 164 locations in the city were inundated as of 8 am.

Around 1.5 lakh people were given food. A total of 65,000 medical camps had been held and 35 lakh people had benefited, the corporation said.

He visited flooded areas in the city and directed officials to ensure food supply for residents displaced and affected by the floods.

Mainly affected areas are Kolathur, Anna Nagar main road, Padi flyover, Ashok Pillar, Korattur, Velachery, Arya Gowda Road in West Mambalam, Perambur, Prakasam street near Habibullah road, parts of Virugambakkam, Thiru Vi Ka Nagar, Ambattur, Madipakkam and Vyasarpadi.

The IMD had also forecast heavy rains in Chennai and suburbs including in Kancheepuram, Chengalpattu, and Tiruvallur districts for Monday.

Meanwhile, Coimbatore saw heavy rains too; water engulfed an entire village in Mettupalayam.

Four teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) will be deployed in Madurai and Chengalpet; the NDRF, fire and police personnel are also engaged in rescue and relief operations in the city.

To drain the water from the residential area 500 huge size motor pumps are being used.

Tamil Nadu has received a 43% surplus rainfall and Chennai registered a 26% excess since October 1.

Following rain in the catchment areas leading to heavy inflows, the State Government gradually began releasing surplus water from reservoirs around Chennai including Poondi and Chembarambakkam. From an initial 500 cusecs, the discharge from Chembarambakkam was increased to 2,000 cusecs Sunday evening.

To provide shelter to the affected, 140 camps have been opened; 44 camps have been used already.

A total of 38 trees had fallen in the city since November 6 night.

“With only a few hours of rain, water has already entered our houses. With two young children, we shudder to think what will be when the rains continue,” Patel, a resident of Otteri Salai, told media persons.

Flood alerts have been issued to people living along the banks of the lakes and steps are underway to evacuate the people from such areas to relief camps at schools and colleges nearby for safety.

(Agencies; Picture Courtesy: PTI)