Two persons died in rain-related incidents in Chennai on Tuesday, The New Indian Express reported. The city has received heavy rainfall in the past 24 hours which left several areas inundated and disrupted normalcy.
Shanthi, 47, a resident of the Prakash Rao Colony in the Pulianthope area, died after a portion of a wall in her balcony collapsed. In the Vyasarpadi area, 52-year-old auto driver Devendran died after being electrocuted while walking on an inundated street.
Earlier on Tuesday, the India Meteorological Department had warned of heavy rainfall in parts of Tamil Nadu and Kerala for the next five days.
Chennai witnessed flooding on General Patterson Road, Walltax Road, Eldams Road, Anna Salai and several other areas, leading to traffic congestion.
A holiday was declared for schools in Chennai, Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram and Chengalpattu districts on Tuesday, reported The News Minute.
The Regional Meteorological Centre at Chennai said that the city’s Nungambakkam area recorded the third-highest rainfall on November 1 in 72 years, The Hindu reported.
The weather station at Nungambakkam recorded 8.4 centimetres of rain on Tuesday. On the same date in 1990, the weather station had recorded 13 centimetres, and in 1964, it had recorded 11 centimetres of rain.
Tamil Nadu Municipal Administration Minister KN Nehru claimed that the number of spots that reported water stagnation has reduced due to the development of new storm water drains. He said that over 19,500 workers have been pressed into action to prevent water from stagnating on roads.
Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin directed authorities to ensure that multi-department zonal committees continuously monitor areas vulnerable to flooding, according to The Hindu.
At a virtual review meeting, he directed officials to depute rescue and relief teams to affected areas without delay.
The India Meteorological Department said that the heavy rainfall will be impacted due to the influence of cyclonic circulation over north Sri Lanka and neighbouring areas.
A bulletin warned that heavy rain is expected at isolated places over Vellore, Tiruvannamalai, Chengalpattu, Villupuram, Cuddalore, Kallakurichi, Tirupattur, Theni, Dindigul, Tenkasi, Tirunelveli, Kanyakumari, Mayiladuthurai, Nagapattinam, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Theni and Dindigul on Tuesday.
In the last 24 hours ending 8.30 am on Monday, Rameswaram received the highest rainfall of 5 centimeters followed by Paramakudi 4 centimeters, reported The New Indian Express.
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