More rain to batter Tamil Nadu, Andhra and Puducherry; red alert issued

More heavy showers are in store for Tamil Nadu, which has been battered with torrential rains for the past few days and received 46 per cent excess rainfall so far this season.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted extremely heavy rainfall for the state as well as neighbouring Andhra Pradesh and the Rayalaseema region from November 10 to 14, saying a low-pressure area over the Bay of Bengal is very likely to concentrate into a depression soon.

A red alert has been issued for Chennai and Puducherry and 13 National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams have been deployed for rescue and relief operations in the regions.

The IMD said the rains are expected to be scattered and would fluctuate between heavy, very heavy and extremely heavy in the specified regions. Most places, however, are likely to receive light to moderate rains.

IMD said Tiruvallur, Kallakurichi, Salem, Vellore, Tiruvannamalai, Ranipet and Tirupattur districts are likely to receive scattered heavy to very heavy rain on November 11 (Thursday).

The Nilgiris, Coimbatore, Chengalpattu, Namakkal, Tiruchirappalli, Chennai and Puducherry may get heavy rain.

“The death toll due to heavy rainfall in the state stands at 12,” Tamil Nadu revenue and disaster management minister KKSSR Ramachandran was quoted as saying by ANI. 

According to the IMD, squally wind speed reaching 45-55 kmph gusting to 65 kmph is likely to prevail over southwest and adjoining west central Bay of Bengal, Gulf of Mannar and along and off Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and south Andhra Pradesh coasts during November 10 and 11. Fishermen have been advised against venturing out into the sea till Thursday.

Thunderstorms with moderate rain are predicted at isolated places over Chennai, Kancheepuram, Vellore, Ranipet, Tiruvannamalai, Tirupathur, Cuddalore, Villupuram, Chengalpattu, Kallakuruchi, Mayiladuthurai, Nagapattinam, Taniavur, Thiruvarur, Pudukottai, Sivagangai, Ramanathapuram, Salem, Tiruchirapalli, Ariyalur, Perambalur, Madurai, and Tiruvallur districts of Tamil Nadu.

Also read: Chennai needs better infra to avoid recurrence of 2015 floods, say experts

The Hindu reported that a four-year-old girl child died due to wall collapse in Thanjavur district while an aged woman was electrocuted in Tiruchi district.

The Tamil Nadu government has announced holidays for schools and colleges in nine districts – Chennai, Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur, Chengalpet, Cuddalore, Nagapattinam, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur and Mayiladuthurai – on November 10 and 11.

Media reports stated that vegetable prices in Chennai have surged following incessant rains across the state over the last four days, which has led to high demand and low supply due to damage of crops, and delays in transportation.

“The public should not go out during rainfall. Keep adequate food and water ready. Keep all electronic devices charged for communication. Measures to distribute food and generator sets (for electricity supply), and to meet other infrastructure needs are also ready,” Greater Chennai Commissioner Gagandeep Singh Bedi was quoted as saying in an NDTV report.

Eight flights have been cancelled to Madurai, Tiruchi, Mumbai and Sharjah at Chennai airport.