CHENNAI: Schools in Chennai, Kanchipuram and Tiruvallur are to remain closed after the regions received moderate to heavy rainfall from Wednesday night.
The zone-wise cumulative rainfall report by the Chennai city corporation showed that in the 24 hours until 6 am on Thursday, several parts of the city, especially in the North and Central regions, received over 7 Cms of rain.
Most of the recorded rainfall came in intermittent heavy spells from Wednesday night to Thursday morning.
On an average, the city received 5.3 cm of rain during this period with Kolathur receiving the highest 8.5 cm followed by Nerkundram which recorded 7.9 cm.
Greater Chennai Corporation’s rain gauge stations in Tondiarpet, Perambur, Madhavaram, Basin bridge, Ayapakkam and Aminjikarai recorded over 7 Cms of rain.
Thursday is expected to see the last of the rains, brought by the well marked low pressure area over the Bay of Bengal, in Chennai.
The India Meteorological Department has flagged the possibility of moderate rain with intense spells of heavy rainfall over Tiruvallur, Ranipet, Chennai, Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram, Tiruvannamalai, Villupuram, Kallakurichi, Cuddalore, Mayiladuthurai, Nagapattinam, Tiruvarur, Thanjavur, Pudukottai and Ramanathapuram in its nowcast valid until 10 am on Thursday.
Schools closed in 14 districts of Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal
The districts of Chennai, Villupuram, Thanjavur, Mayiladuthurai, Pudukkottai, Cuddalore, Dindigul, Ramanathapuram, Thiruvarur, Salem, Kanchipuram, Ariyalur, Chengalpattu, Puducherry and Karaikal have declared Thursday holidays for schools due to the severe rainfall.
In addition to school closures, colleges in Nagapattinam, Puducherry and Karaikal will also remain shut today.
The India Meteorological Department has flagged the possibility of moderate rain with intense spells of heavy rainfall over Tiruvallur, Ranipet, Chennai, Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram, Tiruvannamalai, Villupuram, Kallakurichi, Cuddalore, Mayiladuthurai, Nagapattinam, Tiruvarur, Thanjavur, Pudukottai and Ramanathapuram in its nowcast valid until 10 am on Thursday.
Flood alert issued as Poondi reservoir nears full capacity
The Water Resources Department (WRD) has issued its first flood alert after the water level in the Poondi reservoir touched 34.05 feet against its full capacity of 35 feet at 8 am on Thursday.
Officials announced that 1,000 cusecs of water will be released through the surplus shutters from 1.30 pm.
R Arunmozhi, Executive Engineer of the Kosasthalaiyar basin, informed the Tiruvallur district collector about the rising water levels.
Due to the heavy continuous rains in Chennai, Palavanthangal subway and Aranganathan sub way are closed. Greater Chennai traffic police informed that the water is being pumped out.
The Greater Chennai Corporation has also installed motor pumps in low-lying areas as a precautionary measure to efficiently pump out water into storm water drains.
Several parts of the state received widespread moderate rainfall with intense spells of heavy rains in the last 24 hours, ending Thursday afternoon.
RMC director S Balachandran, who met the press on Thursday afternoon, said that very heavy rainfall was recorded in 4 places. 72 places in the state received heavy rainfall in the last 24 hours. Nagapattinam recorded 18cm, the highest in the state.
Coastal regions in the state may receive moderate to heavy rainfall in the next 24 hours and there was a possibility of extreme heavy rainfall over isolated places in Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi and Tenkasi on Thursday. A red alert has been issued for the day.
As for Chennai, Nerkundram recorded 10 cm of rain, and Meenambakkam recorded 8 cm. Mayiladuthurai also recorded 11 cm in the 24 hours as of 2:30 pm on Thursday.
The well-marked low-pressure area over the Bay of Bengal is expected to weaken as the day progresses. Balachandran said that the on-and-off spells were due to the nature of the low-pressure area.
From Oct 1, the state has received 47 cm of rain on average, 16% higher than normal.