Tamil Nadu Weather Highlights: Red alert in 2 districts; orange alert in Chennai, 7 other districts

A pond-like waterbody has formed in a apart of Chennai's Marina Beach amid heavy rainfall.

Earlier in the day, waterlogging was witnessed in Thoothukudi due to continuous heavy rainfall in the city and its suburban areas.

In Chennai, the Water Resources Department announced releasing surplus water from three reservoirs as the water level rapidly increased towards the full reservoir capacity.

"The public have been advised not to panic as water is being released in advance from Chembarambakkam, Puzhal, and Poondi reservoirs, to be let out into the sea," an official said.

Twenty one people, including five women, were injured when a bus overturned on a rain slicked road in Tindivanam in Villupuram District, early Wednesday morning, said police.

The government-owned bus was going to Chennai from Pattukottai, when the accident occurred near Jakkampettai of Tindivanam at around 3.30am.

"Of the 21, four men were grievously injured. One man's hand was cut off," an officer from Tindivanam police station told PTI. — PTI

Amid the ongoing rainy season, Tamil Nadu School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi on Wednesday said precautionary measures have been issued to ensure the safety of students and staff.

Poyyamozhi said teachers have been instructed to strictly adhere to SOPs during periods of heavy rainfall.

"Usually, during the rainy season, teachers in schools are given instructions on SOPs -- for instance, if water stagnates, they must contact the nearby Public Works Department (PWD) officer to drain it using a motor; and if there are borewells, they should be properly covered," the ANI quoted him as saying.

Heavy to Extremely Heavy rainfall reported over Tamil Nadu-Puducherry-Karaikal region today. The IMD has released the latest 24-hour accumulated rainfall data till 8:30 am. Puducherry reported the highest rainfall. Check out the list below.

In the latest weather map released by the Regional Meteorological Centre, Chennai, the IMD has issued a red alert for Thiruvallur and Ranipet. As the cyclonic circulation in the South Bay of Bengal moves northwards, an orange alert remains in place for Salem, Krishnagiri, Dharmapuri, Tirupathur, Krishnagiri, Vellore, Tiruvannamalai, Kancheepuram, Chengalpattu, and Chennai.

Puducherry Chief Minister N Rangasamy inspected several areas across the city Tuesday night after the city received heavy rainfall throughout the day, news agency PTI reported.

Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin Wednesday inspected the central kitchen set up in connection with the northeast monsoon in areas under the Chennai Chepauk – Triplicane Assembly constituency, according to a post by the Department of Information and Public Relations in Tamil Nadu.

Udhay Stalin also conducted a surprise inspection early in the morning to take stock of the basic facilities needed for the public in temporary relief centers.

The Regional Meteorological Department (RMC), Chennai has predicted light to moderate rainfall, along with thunderstorms and lightning over Chennai, Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram, Chengalpattu, Ranipet, Cuddalore, Tiruvannamalai and Kanyakumari districts of Tamil Nadu, and Puducherry till 1:30 pm on Wednesday.

Heavy rainfall lashes several parts of Tamil Nadu's Sivaganga district, inundating agricultural fields and low-lying areas, news agency PTI reported.

Severe waterlogging was witnessed in parts of Tamil Nadu's Pudukottai due to heavy rainfall across the state, news agency ANI reported.

Heavy rainfall in Thoothukudi on the Coromandel coast of the Bay of Bengal has led to widespread waterlogging in the city.

The Regional Meteorological Department (RMC) in Chennai Wednesday issued an 'orange' alert for a few places over Chennai, Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram, Ranipet, Chengalpattu, Tiruvannamalai, Viluppuram districts of Tamil Nadu, and Puducherry.

Moderate rainfall with thunderstorms and lightning are likely over these districts for the next hour.

Meanwhile, under a 'yellow' alert, light to moderate rainfall is likely over Cuddalore, Kallakurichi, Nilgiris, Tiruppur, Erode, Vellore, and Tirupathur.

Waterlogging in Thoothukudi: Thoothukudi on the Coromandel Coast of the Bay of Bengal is suffering from waterlogging due to the continuous heavy rainfall in the city and its suburban areas.

In view of the heavy rainfall, Nellore District Collector Himanshu Shukla has directed the Revenue and Police departments to remain fully alert, and prepared to handle the situation, ANI reported quoting a release.

He emphasised that, starting Wednesday, arrangements should be made to evacuate people from low-lying areas to safer locations. The Collector also instructed authorities to alert coastal residents and fishermen, advising them not to venture into the sea, as per the release.

Due to the cyclonic weather and widespread heavy rainfall across the district, all government, private, and aided schools, as well as Anganwadi centres, will remain closed on October 22, the Collector announced. He directed all school managements to comply with these orders strictly, the release stated.

A control room has been set up at the Collectorate to monitor the situation. In the event of any rain-related issues, citizens can contact the control room at 0861-2331261 or 7995576699, the Collector informed.

He further stated that staff members have been instructed to operate the control room round-the-clock, and it will remain functional 24 hours a day from October 21 to October 25. (ANI)

Heavy rainfall led to severe waterlogging at the new bus stand in Tamil Nadu's Viluppuram district, leaving passengers stranded and disrupting movement, news agency PTI reported, sharing visuals.

An 'orange' alert is in place at seven coastal and delta districts across Tamil Nadu, including Ramanathapuram, Cuddalore and Thanjavur and Puducherry, according to the Chennai's Regional Meteorological Department (RMC), quoted by ANI.

Chennai’s iconic Marina Beach is experiencing intense sea turbulence, with rough waves and strong winds battering the coast amid ongoing Northeast monsoon activity, news agency ANI reported.

According to officials, the rough sea conditions are expected to persist for the next couple of days.

Authorities have urged fisherfolk and coastal residents to remain vigilant and follow official safety advisories. (ANI)

Following incessant rains in various parts of Tamil Nadu, Chennai District Collector Rashmi Siddharth Jagade announced the closure of all schools in Chennai on Wednesday amid heavy rain alert.

District collectors in Cuddalore, Villupuram, Ranipet, Puducherry, and Karaikal have also announced holidays for their districts’ schools and colleges, ANI reported.

The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) in Chennai has issued 'orange' and 'yellow' alerts for various parts of the state for the next four days.

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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