IMD Withdraws Red Alert in Chennai, Airport Arrivals Resume After 5 Hrs
Heavy rain is predicted over Chennai, Chengalpattu, Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram districts.
advertisement
The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) withdrew the red alert issued earlier today (Thursday), 11 November, in four Tamil Nadu districts of Chennai, Kancheepuram, Chengapattu and Tiruvarur, however heavy wind and rain is still expected in a few places in Chennai.
According to the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), the low pressure area over the Bay of Bengal has transformed into a depression, causing downpour in parts of Tamil Nadu.
The depression is likely to move towards the coast near Mahabalipuram by this evening.
"One or two places in Vellore, Tirupathur, Tiruvannamalai, Chengalpattu are expected to experience heavy to very heavy rainfall. One or two places in Dharmapuri, Krishnagiri, Salem, Kallakurichi districts likely to experience heavy rainfall," Deputy Director General, IMD Chennai, S Balachandran was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.
On Thursday afternoon, the Regional Meteorological Centre, Chennai said that thunderstorm with heavy rain is likely to occur at one or two places over Chennai, Chengalpattu, Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram districts in the next three hours.
An alert has also been issued for high waves in the range of 2.5-3.5 metre till 11:30 pm on Thursday off northern and southern Tamil Nadu coasts.
"Heavy rains over Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh are likely to decrease from tomorrow (Thursday) as the depression enters into land today and weakens subsequently," the Indian Meteorological Department predicted.
16 Dead, Normal Life Disrupted by Heavy Rains in TN
A four-year-old girl reportedly died in a wall collapse following heavy rains in Kumbakonam on Wednesday. Overall, 16 people have died due to the incessant rains in the state.
"16 people dead due to rains in Tamil Nadu, 1146 huts and 237 houses damaged, approxImately 150,000 acres of agricultural fields suffer crop damage.11,290 distress calls received by the Chennai City Corporation," said Tamil Nadu Disaster Management Minister KKSSR Ramachandran.
"In Chennai, out of the 426 areas where there is waterlogging, water has been drained off from 53 areas using big pumps. 48 boats, 46 JCBs and 412 pumps are being used to rescue people and drain water in affected areas. 157 cattle deaths reported so far. 1072 huts partially damaged and 74 huts completely damaged. 236 houses partially damaged and one house completely damaged," he added.
Photos and videos emerging from the state show waterlogged streets, with people wading through knee-deep water, and even using boats for transit. The rains have also adversely impacted developmental structures, houses, and trees in the state.
People wade through a waterlogged street following heavy rain at KM Garden in Purasaiwakkam, in Chennai.
(Photo: PTI)
A man carries a goat that died on a waterlogged street following heavy rain in Chennai.
(Photo: PTI)
A waterlogged street following in Chennai's KM Garden.
(Photo: PTI)
Meanwhile, there were reports of power cut in several areas of South Chennai due to "cable fault, feeder trappings and shutting down as part of precautionary measures," as per The Hindu.
Police Officer Carries Unconscious Man on Her Back, Rushes Him to Hospital Amid Rain
Rajeshwari, Inspector of TP Chatram Police Station carried a man named Udayakumar, who was found lying unconscious at a cemetery, on her back and rushed him to a hospital, wading through the rain.
As visuals of the occurrence emerged, Twitter flooded with praise for the police officer's kind act.
Arrivals Resume at Chennai Airport After 5 Hours
The Chennai airport on Thursday resumed its arrivals after 5 hours, asking passengers to approach to their respective airlines for any updates regarding their flight timings.
The airport had suspended flight arrivals from 1:15 pm to 6 pm due to severe rains and heavy crosswinds. However, departures from the airport were not affected.
Earlier, the Chennai city traffic police had issued a list of subways that had to be closed down due to severe waterlogging and the subsequent diversions to be taken, added the daily. The Greater Chennai traffic police later announced the closure of 11 subways and seven roads in Chennai, reported The Indian Express.
A holiday was declared for schools and colleges in the districts of Vellore, Villupuram, Ranipet, and Kanniyakumari. Schools will also remain closed in Tiruvannamalai and Tirupattur on Thursday.
Relief Operations Underway
On Thursday, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin constituted a team of five ministers headed by Co-operation minister I Periyasamy to assess the extent of crop damage in the Delta region due to heavy rains and provide relief to the farmers.
Meanwhile, Kumar Jayanth, the Principal Secretary, Revenue Department, Tamil Nadu, said: "Due to overnight rainfall, there is waterlogging in parts of Chennai today. 13 subways waterlogged will be cleared, 160 fallen trees removed. In last 4 days, almost 20 lakh people given food packets in Chennai," reported ANI.
The NDRF has deployed 11 teams in Tamil Nadu, two teams in Puducherry, and five teams in Andhra Pradesh. All teams are self-contained with equipment to deal with all types of disasters, according to the NDRF.
In the backdrop of a round-the-clock NDRF control room monitoring the situation, the teams are undertaking evacuation work and aiding affected people in coordination with the local authorities, ANI reported.
"Rescue operations underway in South Chennai, teams came from Pudukkottai, Salem, Ramanathapuram and Thanjavur. Around 150 personnel have come to Chennai for rescue operations," said Senthil Rajkumar, Fire Station Officer, Chennai, as per ANI.
Bedi was quoted as saying, “We've taken lot of steps, we've mobilised additional pumps on hiring and have around 492 pumps in major pump category apart from other pumps.”
“We've already stationed them in low lying areas. We've put 46 boats across various parts of the city in case of a flood situation. Food is given to 2.5 lakh people. We've set up 200 medical camps,” he added, ANI reported.
Andhra Now on Rain Alert, CM Reddy Advises Vigilance
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy on Thursday directed the authorities to be vigilant and review the situation from time to time in wake of the stormy weather.
"During a video-conference with the District Collectors of Prakasam, Nellore, Chittoor and Kadapa on the situation arising from heavy rains, the chief minister called for a high alert in view of the heavy spells, especially in Nellore and Chittoor districts and told the officials to be prepared with SDRF and NDRF teams," a press release issued by the state government said.
The chief minister further instructed the collectors to prepare relief camps for people to be rescued from inundated areas, and directed them to provide Rs 1,000 as a relief amount to every victim.
(With inputs from The Hindu, The Indian Express, and ANI.)
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)