The weather office has forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall today in 14 Tamil Nadu districts, including Chennai, Vellore, Nagapattinam, Karaikal, among others.
The government has declared holiday for schools and colleges in Chennai, Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram and Chengalpet districts today and tomorrow.
Districts like Coimbatore, Tirunelveli, Tiruvarur, Villupuram, Erode, Karur, Cuddalore, Pudukottai, Perambalur received more than 60 per cent of normal rainfall (during the season), Stalin said.
The Tiruvallur Collector has announced that 500 cusecs of water would be released from the Puzhal Reservoir at 11 AM and advised people in low-lying areas on the embankments to be alert.
Health Minister Ma Subramanian said Chennai experienced 20 cm rain in about 12 hours since last night. According to IMD data, the rainfall ranged between 10 CM and 23 CM in Chennai and its suburbs.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Sunday evening and assured him of all possible support from the Centre in rescue and relief work.
PM Modi tweeted, “Spoke to Tamil Nadu CM, Thiru @mkstalin and discussed the situation in the wake of heavy rainfall in parts of the state. Assured all possible support from the Centre in rescue and relief work. I pray for everyone’s well-being and safety.”
Meteorological department said a cyclonic circulation lay over north coastal Tamil Nadu
The Meteorological department said a cyclonic circulation lay over north coastal Tamil Nadu, southeast of Bay of Bengal and a low pressure area is likely to form by November 9 and the agency has forecast widespread rainfall for at least the next three days in the state.
From Saturday morning, Chennai and several suburbs in Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur districts witnessed intermittent rains and showers became non-stop since last night.
Rains ceased in most areas here and in nearby districts by late Sunday night. In view of heavy rains, vehicular traffic, bus and train services were affected here.
Deputy Director General of Meteorology, S Balachandran said the all time record of highest rain here was 45 CM in 1976. Following that in 1985, Chennai had recorded 25 CM and 33 CM rainfall on two different dates. Subsequently, in 2015, the city experienced 25 CM rainfall and now the city has recorded close to that level, he told PTI.Such showers over the past were recorded in November during the Northeast monsoon. “We have received 43 per cent more showers,” he added.
The Kamarajar Salai point (DGP Office on the Marina beachfront) near the Tamil Nadu Secretariat recorded the highest of 23 CM and suburban Ennore in north Chennai, 10 cm.
Some suburban locations, including areas covered in nearby Tiruvallur district received between 3 CM (Poondi and RK Pet) and 9 CM (Cholavaram).
“A cyclonic circulation lies over Southeast Bay of Bengal and adjoining equatorial Indian Ocean extending up to 4.5 Km above mean sea level. Under its influence, a low pressure area is likely to form over southeast Bay of Bengal and neighbourhood around 09th November 2021,” IMD said.