Chennai: Chennai and nearby districts in Tamil Nadu have been experiencing heavy rain for the second consecutive day, signalling the arrival of the northeast monsoon. Many residential areas, including Anna Nagar West, Kolathur, Pammal, and Perambur, are now submerged under knee-deep water.

Traffic congestion has been reported in several parts of Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram, and Tiruvallur districts due to the heavy rainfall. The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) stated on Wednesday: “It is likely to move west-northwestwards and cross the north Tamil Nadu-south Andhra Pradesh coasts between Puducherry and Nellore, close to Chennai, during the early morning of October 17 as a depression.”

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The RMC has also warned of heavy to very heavy rainfall for 12 districts in the northern region and the delta area.

The weather department indicated that the rain is expected to shift to other northern districts, such as Ranipet and Vellore, by Thursday. Chennai and its neighbouring areas could see more heavy rainfall on that day as well.

Winds may reach speeds of up to 60 km/h over the southwest and nearby west-central Bay of Bengal. In response to the situation, the Tamil Nadu State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) are on standby in 26 locations across Chennai, Kancheepuram, Chengalpattu, and Tiruvallur.

The Tamil Nadu government has also stated that 219 boats are prepared for use in rain-related tasks throughout Chennai and other regions of the state.

Interestingly, the monsoon was expected to arrive in Tamil Nadu on October 20, which is five days earlier than the usual onset date that can vary by up to nine days.

The RMC has reported that a well-marked low-pressure area has intensified into a depression over the southwest Bay of Bengal, currently located about 490 km southeast of Chennai. This depression is expected to cross the northern Tamil Nadu and southern Andhra Pradesh coasts, near Chennai, in the early hours of Thursday.

Agency