Chennai rains: 4 dead, schools shut for 2nd day as more downpour expected

Over the next few days, moderate to heavy rains will continue to lash Chennai and other parts of Tamil Nadu

Chennai and coastal parts of Tamil Nadu have received heavy rains for a third day in a row. Until now, four people have reportedly died across the state due to heavy rainfall. 

The state administration has decided to keep the schools shut in several parts of the state. 

In the past 24 hours, areas near Chengalpattu have received 100 mm rainfall, with most places receiving an average of 40 mm rainfall in the city.

While the rain stopped on Wednesday morning for a few hours before resuming, suburbs of Chennai faced water stagnation. Also, some local rivers and bridges were also flooded.

On Tuesday, a woman died in Cuddalore, 190 km from Chennai, after a wall of her home collapsed, taking the total death toll to four.

TV footage showed rainwater beginning to enter houses in Krishna Nagar and Lakshmipuram at Mudichur in Chennai after two days of rain. Mudichur was also one of the areas worst affected by the 2015 floods. Residents of Varadarajapuram were moving out with their belongings as water from the Adyar flooded these areas.

At Thiruvanchery, water from the Selaiyur lake was flowing over open land and roads to reach the Madambakkam lake, instead of a proper channel.

The administration announced that schools in Chennai, Kancheepuram, Nagapattinam, Tiruvallur and seven taluks of Cuddalore would remain shut for one more day since the MET department has forecast more rains for the city.

Overnight rain that lasted till 5:30 am today, was recorded up to 4 cm. 

Tamil Nadu's Municipal Administration Minister SP Velumani on Tuesday said, "It rained in Bengaluru recently, earlier it rained in the UK and US and we were told it was flooded everywhere. It shows our action is better than those in developed countries".

Fisheries Minister D Jayakumar said on Tuesday that there was no need to worry as the government was prepared. "We have the capacity to handle the situation like the foreign countries. We are prepared."

The State government has appointed IAS officers in charge of monitoring rescue and rehabilitation efforts for each of the 15 zones in the Greater Chennai Corporation.

According to Skymet Weather, the persisting cyclonic circulation over Southwest Bay of Bengal off South Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka has kept the Northeast Monsoon vigorous over the region, resulting in hefty showers.

In fact, weathermen are predicting vigorous monsoon condition to persist over Tamil Nadu for next 3-4 days. The cyclonic circulation is likely to stay put in its existing place, which will keep strengthening the humid northeasterly winds over Tamil Nadu.

Over the next few days, moderate to heavy rains will continue to lash Chennai and parts of Tamil Nadu. Some spells of very heavy to extremely heavy rains cannot be ruled out during this time. These showers will also be accompanied with moderate to strong winds.