Tamil Nadu has received 61 per cent excess rainfall during the ongoing northeast monsoon period starting October 1 till date, the state government said on Thursday, while rains continued to lash many parts of the state, especially the northern districts including Chennai.
Tamil Nadu has sought the Centre to grant a total of Rs 2629.29 crore, including Rs 549.63 towards short term measures, from the National Disaster Relief Fund to carry out various works following the downpour since October.
A depression that formed over the Bay of Bengal early this morning will cross the coast between Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh by early November 19, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said and forecast more rains and winds with high speed for the next 24 hours in specific areas.
The Depression over southwest Bay of Bengal off north Tamil Nadu coast moved west-northwestwards and lay centered over southwest Bay of Bengal off north Tamil Nadu coast, about 250 km south-southeast of Chennai, 220 km east-southeast of Puducherry and 210 km east-northeast of Karaikal, an IMD update on Twitter said.
"It is very likely to continue to move west–northwestwards and cross north Tamilnadu & adjoining south Andhra Pradesh coasts between Puducherry & Chennai by early morning of tomorrow, the 19th November, 2021," it said.
The weather office forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall over Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal and coastal Andhra Pradesh and heavy rainfall at isolated places over Rayalaseema and Karnataka on Friday.
Besides, squally winds reaching up to 45-55 kmph gusting to 65 kmph are likely to prevail over southwest and adjoining west-central Bay of Bengal and along & off Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and adjoining south Andhra Pradesh coasts during next the 24 hours and decrease gradually thereafter, it added.
Meanwhile, overnight rains lashed many parts of the state, including this city and its neighbouring districts of Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur and Chengalpet, prompting the authorities to announce holiday for schools, even as it was the case with many other districts as well.
A release from the state Disaster Management Department-Control Room said Tamil Nadu has received 480.3 mm of rainfall from October 1 to November 18, which was an excess of 61 percent than the normal.
In the last 24 hours, all the 38 districts witnessed showers and the state average rainfall was 28.9 mm, with the western district of Tirupur recording the highest of 64.71 mm, it said.
Excess water from the four reservoirs meeting the drinking water requirements of Chennai, and ranging between 700 and 7021 cusecs was being released.
Teams of NDRF and SDRF have been stationed in Chennai, Chengalpet, Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur to meet relief and rescue needs.
The Greater Chennai Corporation has kept ready its manpower and equipment, including 54 boats and 793 mega pumpsets, the release said.
The other district administration were also on guard with required machines, human resources that include first responders, gensets and other required material to face the monsoon fury, it added.
A total of 5106 relief camps were ready in coastal districts to accommodate people in the event of a requirement.
Already, around 2,200 people have been lodged in 36 such camps in nine districts of the state, the release added.
In Chennai, traffic diversions were in place for civic workers to undertake various works, police said, adding people have not been affected by the rains.
In districts like Tirunelveli and Pudukottai, sharp spells led to water stagnation and inundation in some areas.
In neighbouring Puducherry, normal life was hit on Thursday following incessant rains since last night.
The union territory recorded 13.8 cm rainfall between 8:30 am and 1 pm on Thursday. Schools and college in Puducherry and Karaikal remained closed due to the incessant showers.
Chief Minister N Rangasamy visited the rain ravaged residential colonies and explained to the people about the steps taken to alleviate their sufferings.
District Collector Purva Garg who visited various rain-affected villages along with officials of the Revenue, Local Administration and other departments, said that since the onset of the north-east monsoon on October 26, Puducherry has recorded 68.2 cm rainfall.
A young resident of Madukarai village near here drowned in the floods in Malattar river today. The Collector said the personnel of Fire Service Department retrieved the body in coordination with scuba divers of the Fisheries Department.
Several residential colonies in and around Puducherry were inundated. The Public Works Department has come out with a master plan to repair the roads with an investment of Rs 500 crore, sources said.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
