Tamil Nadu On Rain Red Alert For Today, Tomorrow Amid Flooding

Heavy rain – between 150 and 200 mm – is expected in flood-battered Chennai from this afternoon, Greater Chennai Commissioner Gagandeep Singh Bedi told NDTV today.

A ‘red alert’ has been issued for today and tomorrow for 20 districts across Tamil Nadu, including Chennai, after a well-marked low-pressure area over the Bay of Bengal intensified into a depression.

It is expected to move west-northwest and hit Tamil Nadu’s northern coast, leading to heavy to very rainfall over parts of the southern state as well as neighbouring Puducherry and Karaikal.

Ahead of the expected fresh deluge, the Tamil Nadu government has set up 434 ‘siren towers’ to alert authorities to floods and other emergencies, and is working with telecom networks to ensure mobile connectivity is not affected; 50 cellular phone towers (on wheels) are ready for use.

Mr Singh and his second-in-command, Deputy Commissioner G Sneha, told NDTV that boats and motor pumps had been deployed across the city for rescue efforts and to drain floodwaters.

“150 to 200 mm rainfall expected in Chennai. 507 motors are placed in traditional low-lying areas… 60 heavy duty pumps are ready too. Measures to distribute food, generator sets (for electricity supply) and meet other infrastructure needs are also ready. 53 boats have been deployed,” they said.

Mr Bedi and Ms Sneha told NDTV that as of now only a few low-lying areas were still flooded, but cautioned that all such places in the city will likely get inundated again once the rains resume.

Overall, 169 relief centres are operational, and floods have been cleared in 216 of around 400 areas. 14 of 16 flooded subways have also been cleared. Free food will be given at ‘Amma canteens’ and the Chennai Corporation will distribute food packets to communities in low-lying areas.

Yesterday Chief Minister MK Stalin visited rain-affected areas of Chennai and helped distribute food.

Concerns over additional floods after water is released from reservoirs near the city were allayed by Mr Bedi, who told NDTV the water will be released gradually and that there would be no sudden discharge, like 2015. Yesterday the Chennai civic body was pulled up by the Madras High Court, which asked it: “What have you been doing since 2015 floods?” and warned it may have to intercede.

Tamil Nadu has been battered by heavy rains over the past few days, having received 46 per cent excess rain so far, as compared to the historical average.

At least five people have died in rain-related incidents, over 530 houses or huts have been damaged and more than 1,700 people are in relief camps.

Chennai was pounded by rains over the weekend – the heaviest since the 2015 floods – leading to widespread flooding in the city and its suburbs of Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur.

There was some respite today, though, with the city receiving just 14.7 mm till 5.30 am.

Heavy rainfall, however, hit the districts of Nagapattinam in Tamil Nadu and Karaikal in Puducherry this morning; the former recorded 24.5 cm and the latter 27.2 cm as of 5.30 am.

The government had declared a two-day holiday for schools and colleges in Chennai, Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur, Cuddalore, Nagapattinam, Thanjavur, Thiruvarur, and Mayiladuthurai.

Emergency Numbers:

Tamil Nadu government control room: 1070

District control room: 1077

Chennai control room: 1913