Chennai Sinks Again, Met Department Predicts Very Heavy Rains

Regional Meteorological Centre has predicted the increase of rainfall over the coastal regions of Tamil Nadu.

Heavy rains lashed parts of Tamil Nadu, including Chennai, and neighbouring Puducherry, disrupting flight movement and leaving several areas inundated. The forecast for tomorrow is bleak, with the weather office predicting heavy to very heavy rainfall for Tamil Nadu, especially over the northern districts of Chennai, Tiruvallur, and Kancheepuram. Heavy rains have been forecasted for Puducherry as well.

“The trough of low pressure now lies over the Southwest Bay, adjoining Sri Lanka off Tamil Nadu,” officials at the Regional Meteorological Center (RMC) said. Under its influence, widespread rains are expected across the state on Wednesday, with the possibility of “scattered heavy to isolated very heavy rainfall over coastal districts,” they said.

Certain areas in Tamil Nadu such as Parangipettai (Cuddalore) and Marakkanam (Villupuram) received 16 and 15 cm rainfall in the 24 hours ending 8:30 am today.

Even Puducherry received a rainfall of 15.2 cm in the last 24 hours ending 8:30 am on December 1, 2015, disrupting normal life. This is the first time after a decade that heavy rains have battered the Union Territory. In Chennai, office-goers found it tough to make it to their workplaces on time with the incessant rains resulting in waterlogging in several areas. Many of them opted to travel by public transportation.

Most roads were left in a damaged state, with motorists finding it hard to negotiate potholes. Flight operations also took a hit due to the inclement weather. A flight to Colombo had to return, said an airport official. Rail services on the Beach-Tambaram sector also suffered due to severe waterlogging.

Many locals had to break the dividers between roads to make way for clogged water. A holiday has been declared today for educational institutions, in the districts which have been experiencing heavy downpour, officials said.

Meanwhile, the quantum of discharge from Chembarambakkam has been stepped up, with authorities releasing 20,000 cusecs, officials said. Subsequently, the Adyar river is running in spate.