On Tuesday, at least eight planes were postponed for heavy rain hit several regions of Tamil Nadu, including Chennai. This is due to a well-defined low-pressure region over the central parts of the south Bay of Bengal.
Chennai has been experiencing severe rain since Friday night, and the state government has declared a holiday for schools and institutions in the city and nearby areas. Several city neighbourhoods were flooded this morning as heavy rain fell across the state. Between October 15 and 18, IT companies issued work-for-home orders. M K Stalin, the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, took stock on Monday of the authorities’ preparedness and actions to address the situation.
The chief minister further ordered that the National Disaster Response Force and the Tamil Nadu Disaster Response Force be prepared in advance. Extremely heavy rainfall is expected in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Karaikal on October 15 and 16, as well as South Interior Karnataka on October 17.
Residents in impacted areas should stay up to speed on weather forecasts and take appropriate preparations to minimise negative consequences, according to the Met Department. Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin also visited the Integrated Control and Command Centre in Chennai and reported on the situation, stating that the maximum rainfall of roughly 6 cm was recorded in the Sholinganallur and Teynampet areas of Chennai.
As per ANI, Udhayanidhi Stalin quoted, ”Around 5 cm of average rainfall has been recorded in Chennai in the last 24 hours. Things are very much under control. The highest rainfall has been recorded in the Sholinganallur and Teynampet areas, around 6 cm. No power cuts were encountered in any area in Chennai.”
He also adds, “Tree falling has been reported in around 8 areas, and the team is already on duty to clear it. All the trees will be cleared in approximately one to one and a half hours after the rain has stopped. 26 teams from NDRF and SDRF have been readily positioned in Chennai and all the coastal areas. Out of 22 subways in Chennai, two subways have been flooded and the traffic has been closed.”