Chennai rains: Schools, colleges remain shut

Schools and colleges are shut in Chennai, Tiruvallur district and coastal parts of the State as the meteorological office forecasted heavy rains in Chennai and 'very heavy rainfall' in the coastal areas Tamil Nadu.

The rain brought some good news to the Chennai citizens, who have been facing water shortage for months now. 

According to Public Works Department, the catchment areas of Chennai reservoirs and Kandaleru in Andhra have been receiving rains since Sunday, which increased water levels.

On Monday, water storage rose to 300 MCFT in Poondi lake from 42 MCFT, Cholavaram lake storage was 35 MCFT on October 1, 2017 and it rose to 91, while Redhills lake storage rose from 135 MCFT to 347 and Chembarambakam lake storage rose from 221 MCFT to 308.

Chembarambakkam lake is now 20 per cent full, while Puzhal lake at 25 per cent, Ambattur lake 70 per cent and Korattur lake 70 per cent full.

It may be noted, on August 1, 2017, water storage in Chembarambakkam Lake  83 MCFT, it was nil at Redhills and Cholavaram, while in Poondi lake storage level was 20 MCFT.

These lakes, especially Chembarambakkam Lake, is one of the rain-fed reservoirs from where water is drawn for supply to Chennai.

The much expected Northeast Monsoon arrived on Monday, following the withdrawal of the Southwest Monsoon.

Meanwhile, the administration has said that they are prepared and are on high alert.

"Chennai is ready to face heavy rain. Stormwater drains have been cleaned and some 300 chronic water stagnation points have been identified. We have readied 400 suction pumps to remove water during heavy rain," D Karthikeyan, Chennai Municipal Corporation Commissioner, said.

Experts attributed the rainfall to the cyclonic circulation that is currently persisting over Southwest Bay of Bengal, off the Sri Lanka coast and the adjoining Tamil Nadu coast.

"The upper air cyclonic circulation over Southwest Bay of Bengal near Sri Lanka yesterday continues to be positioned in the same region," S  Balachandran, Director of Area Cyclone Warning Centre, told reporters.

Some areas in coastal districts of Chennai, Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur, Cuddalore, Nagapattinam, and Ramanathapuram might experience heavy and very heavy rains as well, he added.