Rains pound Tamil Nadu; schools, colleges shut in 23 districts
Widespread rains, moderate to heavy, lashed several parts of Tamil Nadu on Friday (November 11) and the India Meteorological Department said a well marked low pressure area lay over Bay of Bengal.
Under its influence, rainfall is expected till November 13 and it could be heavy to very heavy in select regions of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, said the IMD.
Almost all parts of Chennai, the neighbouring districts of Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur and Chengalpet, coastal regions falling under Villupuram, Cuddalore, the Cauvery Delta zone regions including Thanjavur district and southern Ramanathapuram as well, experienced the rainfall.
#WATCH | Tamil Nadu: 5 weddings that were scheduled at Anjineyar temple in Pulianthope were delayed due to rainfall today. Couples lined up for wedding ceremonies were drenched as they walked through the water logged inside the temple. These weddings were scheduled months ago. pic.twitter.com/OA96wQEiz2
— ANI (@ANI) November 11, 2022
Intermittent showers began on the night of Thursday (November 10) and it intensified in several regions of the State, leading to waterlogging and disruption in vehicular movement like on the Avadi-Poonamallee stretch.
Tamil Nadu | Municipal workers clear sewers after heavy rainfall triggered waterlogging in several parts of Chennai pic.twitter.com/VLfVErWThc
— ANI (@ANI) November 11, 2022
Areas falling under districts including Mayiladuthurai, Cuddalore, Nagapattinam, Kancheepuram, Chennai and Tiruvallur witnessed heavy rains ranging between seven and 11 cm. Other regions experienced moderate showers.
Also Read: Heavy rains batter Tamil Nadu, Pondy; schools shut in 14 districts
In as many as 23 districts including Chennai, schools and colleges were closed and in six other districts including Dharmapuri and Sivaganga, schools were shut. Neighbouring Puducherry recorded heavy rains since Thursday night. The territorial government too declared a holiday for all schools and colleges.
#WATCH | Rainfall lashes Chennai city in Tamil Nadu this evening. pic.twitter.com/VlPJOQyHWS
— ANI (@ANI) November 10, 2022
Tamil Nadu Minister for Municipal Administration K N Nehru, following an inspection in Chennai, said that all officials are on the spot monitoring the situation. Airport sources said flight operations were not affected.
The arrival and departure of flights were on time, they said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit the Gandhigram Rural Institute in southern Dindigul district on Friday afternoon.
Suburban train and state-run bus services were operated. Fishermen in Cuddalore towed their boats away from the shoreline to safer places using tractors.
An IMD bulletin said a well marked low pressure area “lies over southwest Bay of Bengal and adjoining areas of northeast Sri Lanka off Tamil Nadu coast with the associated cyclonic circulation extending up to upper tropospheric levels.”
Also Watch: Chennai records highest single-day rainfall in 30 years
It is very likely to move northwestwards towards the Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coastline till November 12 morning. Wind speed is expected to be 40-45 kmph gusting to 55 kmph along southern Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu Puducherry and Sri Lankan coasts, the Gulf of Mannar and adjoining Comorin area.
Tiruvallur district authorities said the Kannankottai Thervoy Kandigai reservoir has reached its full level of 36.61 ft and the outflow stood at 130 cusecs.
The release from Puzhal dam is increased to 500 cusecs from 100 cusecs. Similarly, other reservoirs too have been witnessing copious inflows and Redhills has touched 82.97 per centage of its 3,300 mcft capacity.
Water is released from reservoirs as per regulations. Police said the Puzhal-Soorappattu Vinayagapuram subway has been closed and traffic diversions have also been made in several localities due to showers and in view of storm water drain network improvement work.
In waterlogged localities, authorities used heavy duty motors to pump out stagnant rain water.
(With inputs from agencies)
