Rain inundates low-lying areas in Chennai, schools shut, helpline numbers launched

Chennai and several other districts of Tamil Nadu will see intense rain along with thunderstorms and lightning today.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said in its morning weather forecast. A holiday has been declared for the day in schools in Chennai, Chengalpattu, Ranipet and Kanchipuram districts, and in both schools and colleges in Thiruvallur.

Heavy rain battered several low-lying regions in Chennai and other districts in Tamil Nadu on Wednesday. Visuals that surfaced on social media showed many streets in Chennai, Kanchipuram and Thiruvallur flooded with almost knee-deep water. The consistent rain also caused massive traffic jams in Chennai.

The Chennai corporation has launched helpline numbers in the city for people who need assistnce due to rain. The Met Department has issued an orange alert for the capital of Tamil Nadu and its neighbouring districts on December 2 and December 3, implying the possibility of heavy to very heavy rainfall.

The IMD informed in its latest bulletin that a well-marked low pressure area persists over the southeast Bay of Bengal and adjoining south Andaman Sea, which is likely to move west-northwestwards and turn into a depression over the Bay of Bengal today. Thereafter, it is expected to intensify into a cyclonic storm on December 2.

In view of the cyclone warning, as many as five NDRF teams have been deployed in Chennai, Chengalpet and Villupuram districts.

Amid heavy rain in Tamil Nadu, Chief Minister MK Stalin has directed officials, ministers, MLAs, and local body representatives to offer all necessary assistance to people in the rain-hit regions.

Rain along with thunderstorm activity has also been forecast by the IMD in other southern states and Union terrirtories such as Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Puducherry and Karaikal over the next five days till December 4.