Tamil Nadu has been receiving ‘heaviest rains’ since 2015 deluge and two reservoirs are opened to let out surplus rain water
Representational image. ANI
Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin has announced holiday for educational institutions around Chennai, Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram, and Tiruvallur districts for the next two days, according to several media reports.
Stalin inspected several inundated areas along with top officials including Chief Secretary V Irai Anbu and directed authorities to take swift action to drain flood water, as per Indian Express. Stalin also distributed flood relief such as rice, milk and blankets to people who have been moved to temporary shelters. Chennai experienced 20 cm rain in about 12 hours since last night, health minister Ma Subramanian said, as per the report.
Earlier on Sunday actor-politician Kamal Haasan on Sunday appealed to his fans to reach out to the needy in Chennai after authorities sounded a preliminary flood alert in the Tamil Nadu capital following heavy rains.
Haasan, who turned 67 today, asked his admirers to help those affected by the rains. “Dear friends, hurry up and help the poor people who are suffering from the floods. That could be the best birthday gift you can give me,” the actor, who also heads the political party Makkal Needhi Maiam, tweeted in Tamil.
Torrential rains lashed Chennai and its suburban areas overnight and it continues, with waterlogging all around as two city reservoirs are set to be opened.
Chembarambakkam and Puzhal reservoirs, which serve as important sources of drinking water to the Chennai city would be opened to let out surplus rain water, authorities announced.
As result of heavy rains, Tiruvallur Collectorate had announced that 3,000 cubic feet per second was to be opened from Poondi reservoir at 9 am; also 1,000 cubic feet per second of water will be released from Puzhal Lake at 11 am, and 500 cubic feet per second from Chembarambakkam Lake at 1.30 pm respectively. A warning has been issued for those living in low lying areas to vacate their homes, according to The Hindu.
The water level of the Vaigai dam reached 66.83 feet
Sounding a preliminary flood alert, the state water resources authorities advised district collectors of Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur to evacuate people living in low-lying areas and house them in safe locations.
From Saturday morning, Chennai and several suburbs in Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur districts witnessed intermittent rains and showers became non-stop since night that led to inundation in many areas, inconveniencing people.
Private weather bloggers said this was the ‘heaviest rain’ the city has experienced since 2015. The live weather update of the met department showed that Nungambakkam had received 20.8cm of rain while Meenambakkam and Ennore had received 9.4cm and 8cm, respectively, by 8am on Sunday. The weather agency said that the rains are most likely to continue till 10 November.
Vehicular traffic, bus, train services hit
In Chennai, vehicular traffic, bus and train services were hit on Sunday.
Though there was some delay in respect of a couple of flights, there was no major disruption in services, airport sources said adding even passengers who arrived late due to showers were allowed to board.
Rain water -on runways- was pumped out by workers using heavy equipment and authorities are overseeing work aimed at ensuring normal services, sources added. Metrorail services were also not affected, an official said.
There was a visible dip in state-run bus services, only fewer buses were operated in suburbs and train services were also affected.
Railway sources said the Basin Bridge yard was flooded which led to disruption in routing trains, in and out of the Chennai Central Railway Station and a long distance train from Tiruvananthapuram had to be halted at Tirunindravur in the northern suburb.
Suburban train services in the Tambaram-Beach line was affected for sometime as railway tracks were covered by sheets of water.
Rainwater is being pumped out in affected areas, railway sources said.
An official release meanwhile said “Dr MGR Chennai Central-Mangalore Express Special scheduled to leave at 4.20 PM on Sunday is rescheduled to leave at 7.30 PM” due to late running of pairing train, of about 3 hours and 10 minutes.
Another train, bound for Jaipur would leave at 8.30 PM instead of 5.40 PM, the release said.
There were traffic diversions due to water logging and uprooted trees in several locations including the arterial EVR Salai, and subways witnessed inundation upto a height of several feet.
Police said the traffic movement is slow in view of water logging and advised the people to be cautious.
Several people said they found it difficult to get cabs or autorickshaws while some said drivers working for cab aggregators declined acceptance for travel.
Motorcycles, scooters and autorickshaws could be spotted stranded in many locations.
Civic and Public Works Department personnel worked to pump water out in inundated areas and also placed sandbags in locations including the Anna Nagar Peripheral Hospital campus.
With inputs from agencies