Tamil Nadu Rain Update: Chennai Faces Heavy Rain, CM Urges People to Stay Indoors

NEW DELHI: Tamil Nadu minister Ma Subramanian said that the government is continuously reviewing the situation and at present, in 15 zones of Chennai nodal officers are appointed to review the rain situation.

People residing in low-lying areas are advised to move to government-provided shelters. More than one lakh needy people were provided with essentials and food. The administrations of Puducherry and Karaikal administrations have declared holidays to all educational institutions.

On Sunday 7 November Chennai and its nearby areas experienced heavy rainfall as per the cyclonic circulation during the monsoon season which led to a flood in many areas and the opening of water gates of three city reservoirs to let out the excess water. The areas of Puducherry and Tamil Nadu have experienced 43 percent surplus rainfall since the beginning of the Northeast monsoon in the month of October. It is after six years that the city faced heavy to very heavy rainfall in just 24 hours though other nearby regions of Tamil Nadu experienced moderate and mild rainfall.

The State Government has shut down all schools and colleges and declared holidays in the districts of Chengalpet, Tiruvallur, Chennai, and Kancheepuram for today 8 November, and tomorrow 9 November. Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, M.K Stalin said that the districts that received more than 60% of normal rainfall during the monsoon season are Tirunelveli Coimbatore, Tiruvarur, Erode, Villupuram, Pudukottai, Karur, Cuddalore, and Perambalur.

According to the Meteorological department, a cyclonic circulation lay is expected to form over southeast of Bay of Bengal north coastal Tamil Nadu and low-pressure regions by Tuesday 9 November and the agency has forecast extensive rainfall for at least the upcoming three days in Tamil Nadu.

From 6 November Saturday morning Chennai and various outlying districts of Tiruvallur and Kancheepuram have received intermittent rainfall which became unstoppable since Sunday night and by late night the rain stopped to some extent in these areas. All the transport services including buses and trains got affected by severe rain.

Minister of Revenue and Disaster Management, KKSSR Ramachandran reported that 26 districts of Tamil Nadu witnessed extreme rainfall which resulted in the death of four persons and one injured. He added that the rain incidents led to the destruction of about 260 houses and the government has deployed national disaster response forces wherever needed. In Chennai 160 relief centers were opened after the damage caused and on Sunday over 50,451 food packets were distributed to affected people.

The DGP Office on the Marina beachfront at Kamarajar Salai point close to the Tamil Nadu Secretariat recorded the highest of 23 CM and sub-urban Ennore in north Chennai recorded 10 cm. Some suburban areas of nearby Tiruvallur district received between 3 CM in Poondi and RK Pet and 9 CM in Cholavaram.

Surplus water from the reservoirs of Poondi, Puzhal, and Chembarambakkam has been opened in a phased manner with an alert in advance. Rainwater entered numerous houses situated in areas of Ambattur, Saidapet, Vyasarpadi, Velachery, and Korattur.

Bridges were damaged along with roads and market areas and 6 subways were shut for traffic as trees were uprooted. The Mettur Dam water raised 116 feet on Sunday against its capacity of 120 feet and water from Mordhana Dam has been released on touching the full level.

The situation has worsened in Chennai as all the water bodies are almost full the people and government fears about the situation of Chennai in 2015 as Chennai experienced a nightmarish flood due to heavy rainfall in 2015. In monitoring the drainage system and inspecting water bodies Health Secretary J Radhakrishnan and Principal Secretary / Commissioner, Greater Chennai Corporation Gagandeep Singh Bedi played a very significant role.

In light of the situation in Tamil Nadu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to M K Stalin and assured him of all necessary support needed from the Centre in rescue and relief work of TN rains.

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