Chennai rains: Waterlogging has led to traffic congestion, causing hardship for commuters.
A red alert has been issued for Chennai and three adjoining districts after heavy rain led to waterlogging in several areas. Three people died in rain-related electrocutions in Tamil Nadu on Thursday, state minister for revenue and disaster management K. K. S. S. R. Ramachandran said.
Chennai, Kancheepuram, Thiruvallur, and Chengalepattu are the districts where a red alert, which indicates heavy to extremely heavy rains of over 20 cm in 24 hours, has been issued. Schools, colleges and non-essential government offices in these districts will remain closed on Friday.
Up to 20 cm of rains have flooded the capital city Chennai as a cyclonic circulation along the coasts triggered heavy rainfall. Waterlogging has led to traffic congestion, causing hardship for commuters who were unprepared for severe rainfall.
Bhnumathi, an HR intern, was stuck at her office for more than two hours. "No buses were coming, and cabs showed 4 times the price, Rs 800 to reach my home," she told NDTV.
Chennai metro rail extended services by one hour on Thursday to help stranded commuters. The last metro left by 12 am.
Four subways in the city have been shut. "More than 145 giant pumps are running to pump waters out," Corporation Commissioner Gagandeep Singh Bedi said in a statement.
The weather department has forecast moderate rainfall on Friday.
"Very heavy rainfall observed over Chennai & neighbourhood and rainfall activity likely to continue over the region during next 06 hours.
Rainfall recorded from 0830-1945 IST of today (in mm).
Chennai (MRC Nagar) - 198
Nungambakkam - 160," the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said in a tweet at 8:55 pm.
The weather department has updated the numbers till 8:30 pm:
Nungambakkam -177.2 mm
Chennai Airport - 131.3 mm
MRC Nagar - 208 mm
ACS Medical College (Kancheepuram) - 150 mm
Isolated heavy to very rainfall activity is likely to continue over north coastal Tamil Nadu and adjoining areas of south coastal Andhra Pradesh during the next three days and decrease thereafter, the IMD said.