Low Pressure to intensify, rain lashes several parts of Tamil Nadu, 4 die in rain related incidents

Chennai: Even as the Low Pressure Area over southeast Bay of Bengal persisted over the same region and is likely to move towards North Tamil Nadu tomorrow, scattered to heavy rains lashed several parts of Tamil Nadu since last evening, including Chennai city and suburbs, as four people died in rain related incidents in the State since last evening.

The deaths were reported due to lightning and wall collapses and the state government has announced compensation last night.

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) on Tuesday morning said the system is likely to move west-northwestwards and become a well marked low pressure area over central parts of south Bay of Bengal by Tuesday.

Thereafter, it is likely to intensify into a depression and continue to move west-northwestwards towards north Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and adjoining south Andhra Pradesh coasts.

Under its influence, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry will experience light to moderate rainfall over most places with heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places today, setting the stage for the onset of Northeast Monsoon over Tamil Nadu and Southern Peninsular India.

It said heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places over Tamil Nadu and Puducherry with extremely heavy rainfall at isolated places over north Tamil Nadu is likely on Wednesday.

Light to moderate rainfall over most places with heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places is very likely over interior Tamil Nadu on October 17.

As a precautionary measure, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin, who reviewed the monsoon preparedness after the Met office, based on various forecast models, predicted heavy rains today extremely heavy showers, in excess of 20 cm tomorrow, has declared a holiday for all schools and colleges today in Chennai and three adjoining districts and also directed the IT firms to ask their workers to work from home.

Holidays were also declared for schools and colleges in Cuddalore, Villuppuram and other districts by the respective Collectors in view of heavy rain forecast.

Mr Stalin also reviewed the precautionary arrangements put in place in Chennai, Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram and Chengalpattu districts for which an Orange alert was issued for the day and Red alert for Wednesday along with three other districts.

A total of 15 districts, including the North Tamil Nadu and interior districts, are likely to receive heavy rains today.

Meanwhile, the Chennai Regional Meteorological Director S.Balachandran said there was no need to panic and appealed to the people to be safe as Red alert was not sounded for the entire state.

Heavy rains will lash the North Tamil Nadu coasts, including Chennai and neighbouring districts.

Based on weather predictions, Red alert was issued for some districts as heavy rainfall is expected today and extreme showers tomorrow.

Meanwhile, several parts of Tamil Nadu, including the Central region, received scattered to widespread rains since last evening, causing stagnation of rain water in arterial roads.

The Chennai city and the suburbs also received scattered rains since last night and the entire government machinery and the Greater Chennai Corporation authorities have made all precautionary arrangements to face the rain fury.

At least 190 relief centres were opened in the city to house people evacuated from low-lying and flood prone areas and all basic amenities, including provision of food for 1,500 people in each centre was readied.

As gusty winds and thunderstorm would accompany heavy rains, high powered motor pumps to pump out stagnated water in subways and other areas, and tree cutting machines and generators were kept in readiness.

Besides NDRF and SDRF teams were deployed to Chennai and the three districts which was expected to receive heavy rains today and tomorrow for rescue and relief efforts.

Boats with trained fishermen to rescue the people from marooned areas were also kept in standby and more than 13,000 NGO volunteers were drafted for rescue and relief works.

The rain situation would be monitored round the clock in modern control room at Ripon Buildings, the seat of Chennai Corporation, with the deployment of 150 staff members in four shifts.

The Corporation has appointed monitoring in all the wards to monitor relief works and also opened helplines to redress the grievances of the people from rain-hit areas.

The Chennai Metro Rail and the elevated MRTS train services would be operated with additional services for the benefit of public.

The Chennai Metro announced that trains would be operated in all stretches at every five minutes in green and three minutes interval in blue corridors.

The Health department also swung into action and has asked all primary health centres and government hospitals to be in a state of readiness, with additional beds and adequate stock of medicines to treat any emergency.