Tamil Nadu Rains & Weather Today LIVE Updates: Severe waterlogging in parts of Chennai, Thoothukudi after heavy rainfall; flood alert in Madurai

While parts of Tamil Nadu remain inundated, the neighbouring state Kerala has put three districts on red alert, ordering that all schools, colleges and other educational institutions remain shut in these districts on Wednesday after the India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicted very heavy rainfall.

The districts put on red alert are Idukki, Malappuram and Palakkad. As part of the precautions, the districts have been ordered to close tourism centres and warn people against travelling to hilly regions. The government has also ordered the stopping of mining activities until further directions.

After heavy rainfall, 250 cusecs of water from Cooum River barrage have been released at Avadi and Pudhuchathiram.

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Heavy to very heavy rain is likely to occur in isolated places in Ramanathapuram, Pudukottai, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Mayiladuthurai, Cuddalore districts, as well as Puducherry and Karaikal areas. Thunderstorms and lightning are likely to occur at one or two places here.

According to TNSMART, (Tamil Nadu System for Multi-hazard potential impact assessment, Alert, emergency Response planning and Tracking), Thangachimadam and Mandapam in Ramanathapuram will receive 170 mm and 143 mm rainfall respectively on Tuesday. Virudhunagar's Watrap will receive 0.2 mm rainfall and Ice House in Chennai with 0.3 mm rainfall, it said.

Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin inspected the infrastructure development and renovation works being undertaken in the south Chennai area to improve the waterways so that flood water can easily flow into the sea during the monsoon season.

These works include deepening, widening, constructing covered canals with concrete walls, stormwater drains as well as desilting the areas where the canals meet the sea and the estuarine areas.

Udhayanidhi visited Okkiam Madhavi canal, where the work is being undertaken at a cost of Rs 27 crore. He also inspected the desilting work in Kannagi Nagar area, an official release said.

Thangachimadam in Ramanathapuram recorded the highest rainfall of 170 mm from Monday till 8:30 am on Tuesday, as per the IMD. This was followed by 150 mm rainfall in Pamban (Ramanathapuram), 140 mm in Mandapam (Ramanathapuram), and 130 mm in Varattupallam (Erode).

100 mm rainfall was recorded in multiple regions. Among them were Velankanni (Nagapattinam), Annamalai Nagar (Cuddalore), Chidambaram AWS (Cuddalore), Chidambaram (Cuddalore), and Zone 14 Medavakkam (Chennai).

Severe waterlogging was witnessed in Tamil Nadu's Thoothukudi amid consistent heavy rainfall over the past four days in the city and its suburban areas, news agency ANI reported.

A fresh spell of light rain lashes parts of Madurai early Tuesday, news agency PTI reported.

Check out this map from the IMD, showing the rain forecast in various regions.

Thre IMD has forecast: "Squally weather with wind speed reaching up to 55 kmph is likely to prevail along and off Tamil Nadu coast, over Gulf of Mannar and Comorin area."

Incessant rainfall across Tirunelveli city in Tamil Nadu damaged standing paddy crops in its main town of Ambasamudram, news agency PTI reported.

Farmers in the area have urged the agriculture department to inspect affected areas and provide compensation, as per the report.

An orange alert has been issued in Ramanathapuram, Pudukkottai, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Mayiladuthurai, Cuddalore districts, Puducherry, and Karaikal.

These regions are on the eastern coast of Tamil Nadu. A yellow alert is in place for the southern, south-eastern and northeastern coasts of the state.

“Heavy rain is likely to occur at isolated places over Kanyakumari, Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi, Villuppuram, Chengalpattu, Chennai, Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram, Ariyalur, Perambalur, Sivaganga, Madurai, Virudhunagar, Tenkasi, Theni, and Dindigul districts,” the IMD bulletin read.

While rainfall is predicted across various districts of Tamil Nadu throughout the week, a flood alert has been issued in Madurai as water level of the Vaigai River surges following heavy rain, reported news agency PTI.

Chennai is likely to be hit by heavy rainfall again on Tuesday, after incessant downpour caused waterlogging in several areas across the city and flooding in many districts.

According to a statement by the Regional Meteorological Centre, Chennai, light thunderstorms with light to moderate rain is likely to occur at isolated places over Dindigul, Kanniyakumari, Karur, Madurai, Tenkasi, Theni, Thoothukkudi, Tiruchirappalli, Tirunelveli, and Virudhunagar.

“Heavy to very heavy rain is likely to occur at isolated places over Ramanathapuram, Pudukkottai, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Mayiladuthurai, and Cuddalore districts as well as in Puducherry and Karaikal,” the latest weather bulletin from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) read.

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