Flood alert issued for people in Chennai's suburbs

Since 2 pm on Sunday, 1000 cubic feet surplus water per second was being released from the Poondi reservoir.
People take shelter at Marina beach as heavy rains lashed Chennai. (Photo | R Satish Babu, EPS)
People take shelter at Marina beach as heavy rains lashed Chennai. (Photo | R Satish Babu, EPS)

CHENNAI: A flood alert was issued to people living near the banks of Kosasthalaiyar river on Sunday as Poondi reservoir reached near full capacity.

Chennai was also receiving heavy rainfall. On Saturday, the DGP office weather station had recorded 100 mm rainfall in 1 hour. 

As of 5:30 pm on Sunday, Nungambakkam received 20.6 mm rainfall and Meenambakkam received 23 mm rainfall.

Since 2 pm on Sunday, 1000 cubic feet surplus water per second was being released from the Poondi reservoir. As against the reservoir's capacity of 3,231 mcft, the level stood at 2,807 mcft on Sunday. The inflow was 1,691 cusecs.

"Poondi received almost above 4.50 TMC (Thousand Million Cubic Feet) of water in Poondi Reservoir through Krishna water supply canal (Sathyasai Ganga canal) from Kandaleru dam during this season from June to September. Now, Poondi reservoir is also receiving water from all the tributaries of Kosasthalaiyar river via Nagari river (Andhra) Nandhi river (Thiruthani area) and Kaveripakkam tank surplus waters (from Palar river)," said an official from the Public Works Department.

"If rains continue, additional water will be released. However, there is no need to worry as necessary precautions have been taken to prevent flooding," the official said.

A bunch of villages, including Nambakkam and Krishnapuram and Chennai's suburbs like Ennore and Manali, falling under Tiruvallur district are among the downstream areas.

Meanwhile, the Regional Metrology Center predicted thunderstorm with heavy rain on Monday at isolated places over Nilgiris, Coimbatore, Salem, Tiruvannamalai, Villupuram, Cuddalore, Mayiladuthurai, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur and Nagapattinam.

Also, thunderstorm with moderate rain is likely to occur at many places over rest North and South Tamil Nadu.

For the next 24 hours in Chennai, the sky condition is likely to be generally cloudy. Thunderstorm with moderate rain is likely to occur in some areas. Maximum and minimum temperatures will be around 34 degrees celsius and 26 degrees celsius respectively.

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