Deputy Director-General of Meteorology S Balachandran said on Thursday, November 11, that most districts in northern Tamil Nadu, including Chennai, are likely to receive heavy to very heavy rainfall towards the evening. The forecast was attributed to the depression over the Bay of Bengal that is likely to cross the coast between north Tamil Nadu and south Andhra Pradesh on Thursday evening.
Chennai would also receive “strong” winds of up to 45kmph, the weather office said on Thursday. The city and its suburbs received sharp showers throughout the night and on Thursday morning.
With a speed of 21kmph, the depression over the southwest Bay of Bengal moved west-northwestwards over the past six hours and lay centred at 5.30am on Thursday over the southwest Bay of Bengal, about 170km east-southeast of Chennai and 170km east of Puducherry, the India Meteorological Department said in a bulletin issued at 8.30am.
The bulletin added: “It is very likely to continue to move west-northwestwards and cross north Tamil Nadu & adjoining south Andhra Pradesh coasts around Chennai by the evening of today.”
Balachandran said that this would result in Chennai getting “strong surface winds” — ranging between 40-45kmph. “People should not venture out unnecessarily,” he said.
He said that Tambaram (Chengalapattu) received the highest rainfall of 232.9mm, followed by Cholavaram (220mm) and Ennore at 205mm. Chennai (Nungambakkam) recorded 158 mm
Meanwhile, Chennai and its suburbs continued to be hit by showers on Thursday. This worsened the flood situation in many areas, including KK Nagar, as several subways and roads had to be closed for vehicular traffic. Trees were uprooted in places like Egmore and Perambur.
Greater Chennai Corporation, police, and fire and rescue services have been continuously conducting relief and rescue operations. They are also facilitating the pumping out of stagnant water.
The north-east monsoon, which brings the bulk of rainfall to Tamil Nadu, has been active for the past fortnight and many parts have been receiving incessant rainfall since Sunday.
Most of the water bodies in the state, including the reservoirs meeting the drinking water needs of Chennai, the Mettur Dam in Salem and others are full and excess water is being released from most of them.
Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin urged the ministers and officials to hasten the relief activities in rain-affected areas. Stalin spoke to ministers and special officers deputed to manage the rain-related issues in various districts and reviewed the situation with them.
He also directed them to ensure the availability of quality food and medical facilities at relief camps and asked the authorities concerned to undertake measures to prevent crop loss. He held a review meeting with top state government officials, including Chief Secretary V Irai Anbu as well.
Stalin further ordered the formation of a six-member ministerial panel, headed by Cooperative Minister I Periyasamy, to assess crop damage, particularly in the Cauvery delta region, and submit a report to expedite relief work.
Surjitt Sahani
