Rain pounds Tamil Nadu as depression looms large

 

 

Tamil Nadu continued to experience monsoon fury, with heavy rains pounding various parts of the State under the influence of a well-marked low pressure area over Bay of Bengal, as the death toll from rain-related incidents climbed to 59. 

There seemed to be no respite from the downpour with many parts of Chennai coming under water even as the weatherman forecast more rains for the next 24 hours, beginning 0830 hrs.

The India Meteorological Department said in a bulletin on Sunday that the well-marked low pressure area over southwest Bay of Bengal adjoining Sri Lanka persisted and “it is likely to move west-northwestwards towards Tamil Nadu coast and would concentrate into a depression during next 24 hours.” 

Under its influence, more rains were expected in the next 24 hours, the Regional Meteorological Department said. 

Weather warning (valid upto 0830 hrs IST of Monday): 

Day 1 (15th Nov.): Heavy to very heavy rain would occur at a few places over north Tamil Nadu. Heavy rain would occur at isolated places over south Tamil Nadu. Moderate fog would occur at isolated places over Meghalaya, Nagaland-Manipur-Mizoram-Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Chandigarh & Delhi and north Rajasthan. 

Day 2 (16th Nov.): Heavy to very heavy rain would occur at a few places over Tamil Nadu & Puducherry and at isolated places over Rayalaseema. Heavy rain would occur at isolated places over couth coastal Andhra Pradesh, south Tamil Nadu and south interior Karnataka. Moderate fog would occur at isolated places over Meghalaya and Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram-Tripura. 

Day 3 (17th Nov.): Heavy to very heavy rain would occur at isolated places over coastal Andhra Pradesh and Rayalseema.

Heavy rain would occur at isolated places over north Tamil Nadu and south interior Karnataka. 

Day 4 (18th Nov.): Heavy to very heavy rain would occur at isolated places over coastal Andhra Pradesh. 

Day 5 (19th Nov.): Nil. 

Weather Outlook for the subsequent 2 days (20th Nov. & 21st Nov. 2015): Rain/thundershowers would occur at many places over Tamil Nadu, coastal Andhra Pradesh, Rayalseema and Kerala and would increase considerably over rest peninsular India. Minimum temperature would fall by 2-3 degrees C over northwest and adjoining central India. 

A water-logged Wall Tax road in Chennai. Photo: B. Jothi Ramalingam

Schools, colleges closed on Monday

Monday has been declared a holiday for schools and colleges in Chennai and Kanchipuram districts.

* VIT University has declared holiday for Vellore campus on November 16, 2015.

* The practical examinations of all UG and PG courses of the TN Dr. MGR Medical University scheduled for November 16 and 17, 2015 stand postponed due to heavy rains. The revised dates shall be notified later.

* “Tamil Nadu Dr. Ambedkar Law University-affiliated law colleges exams scheduled for November 16, 17 and 18 have been cancelled due to rain and the new dates will be announced later,” said a release.

Near Panagal Park, T.Nagar in Chennai on Sunday. Photo: M. Moorthy

Storage in Chennai Reservoirs as of today

Source: Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply & Sewerage Board 

 

Anaikaracharthiram (Nagapattinam) received the maximum rainfall of 18 cm recorded till 8.30 am, Regional Meteorological Centre Director S.R. Ramanan said, adding, Sirkazhi registered 17 cm. Chennai received 3 cm rainfall between 8.30 am and 11.30 am on Sunday.

He said heavy to very heavy rains could be expected in the northern coastal districts of the State in the next 24 hours while there could be rain in the rest of the districts.

Rains were also expected in Puducherry on Monday. 

The seas would be rough, he said, warning fishermen against venturing for fishing.

MTC bus stuck on Ganesapuam subway, Vyasarpadi. Photo: R. Ragu

 

Deaths in Tamil Nadu

Meanwhile, four persons died due to various rain-related incidents on November 13 and 14, the government said.

Chief Minister Jayalalithaa condoled the death of the four persons, three of whom died due to drowning in Kancheepuram district while one person in Vellore was killed in wall collapse. She announced a sum of Rs four lakh each to the families of the victims from the Disaster Relief Fund. 

Situation in Chennai

Bullocks wearing a plastic sheet as it rains at T.Nagar in Chennai on Sunday. Photo: M. Moorthy 

 

The incessant rains severely crippled normal life in Chennai, where most roads, residential areas and low-lying parts were inundated.

Subways at suburban Chennai connecting the residential areas were inundated, rendering them useless for commutation.

A scene from Thillai Ganga Nagar. Photo: G. Sribharath

Water-logged roads resulted in slow movement of vehicles even as pedestrians were seen wading through waist-deep to knee-deep water in many places.

Trains on the suburban Chennai Egmore-Tambaram were running slow.