Heavy rain alert in Tamil Nadu, Andhra as depression formed over Bay of Bengal

The well-marked low-pressure area over the southwest and adjoining southeast Bay of Bengal moved west to northwestwards and intensified into a depression on Tuesday evening.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said in a statement. The weather system is expected to make landfall between Andhra Pradesh’s Nellore and north Puducherry on Thursday, October 17.

This meteorological system is advancing northwestwards at approximately 10 kmph, and the anticipated landfall is likely to bring significant weather changes to the region, the Met said in a press statement.

According to a Met official, heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely in a few places in southern Andhra Pradesh and northeast Tamil Nadu in the next 24 to 36 hours. Southern Karnataka is also expected to receive a fresh spell of rainfall in the same period, the wether body said.

In view of the rain alert, schools and colleges will remain shut in Chennai, Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur and Chengalpet districts of Tamil Nadu on Wednesday, October 16. The government has also urged private officers to allow their employees to work from home due to the rain forecast.

Similarly, schools will also be shut in Bengaluru on October 16 due to the heavy rain alert. Teams of NDRF and State Disaster Response have also been deployed in Chennai and Bengaluru following the heavy rain forecast.

In Tamil Nadu, 1,000 monsoon medical camps have been set up, which includes 100 such facilities in Chennai. As many as 13,000 volunteers have come forward to assist authorities in rain-related tasks. In total, 65,000 volunteers are on standby in the state.

According to Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister, Udhayanidhi Stalin, disaster response force teams of the state and Centre are on standby in 26 locations in Chennai and districts nearby. In addition, 219 boats are ready for use for rain-related tasks in Chennai and other parts of the state.