Chennai rains disrupt life: IMD issues warning of approaching depression amid ongoing red alert

Chennai: The city and other parts of Tamil Nadu faced heavy rains on Tuesday, causing knee-deep water in neighbourhoods and on roads, leading to traffic jams and disruption of public transport. Many bus services were cancelled, and the Southern Railway had to cancel four express trains, including the Chennai Central-Mysuru Kaveri Express, due to waterlogging. Several trains were diverted, and some were stopped before reaching Chennai Central station, with others starting from suburban Avadi. A number of domestic flights were also cancelled as fewer passengers showed up.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), low-pressure areas over the southwest and adjoining southeast Bay of Bengal have moved west-northwestward, intensifying the depression in the region. As of 5:30 pm on Tuesday, this depression was located about 490 kilometres east-southeast of Chennai. The IMD predicts that it will continue to move west-northwest and is expected to cross the northern Tamil Nadu and southern Andhra Pradesh coasts between Puducherry and Nellore, reaching near Chennai in the early morning of October 17.

The IMD also reported another depression in the west-central Arabian Sea off the Oman coast, which has shifted northwestward and was centred about 180 kilometres southeast of Duqm, Oman, as of 5:30 pm. This depression is expected to move north-westward and make landfall close to Duqm during the early hours of October 16.

The government has placed disaster response teams on standby at 26 locations in Chennai and nearby districts. In preparation, 219 boats are ready for use in rain-related emergencies. Relief centres have been set up in Chennai, Tiruvallur, Chengalpattu, and Kancheepuram districts, with top officials monitoring the situation. Efforts are underway to clear water from over 300 locations in the city, and so far, no major incidents have been reported apart from a wall collapse that injured one person.

Chief Minister M. K. Stalin and state ministers visited flood-prone areas to oversee water drainage efforts. During his visit, Stalin showed appreciation for the civic workers, treating them to tea and biscuits. He also visited the state emergency control centre.

Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin inspected various areas, including the Narayanapuram lake near Velachery, where rainwater is being drained effectively. He also reviewed operations at the Chennai Corporation's command centre.

As the rains continued, fewer people travelled on the roads. Local train services, including the Metro, remained mostly unaffected. Some residents in flood-prone areas like Ram Nagar moved their cars to higher ground and sought shelter in hotels.

Civic authorities responded quickly to fallen trees and waterlogging, using heavy pumps to clear the streets. The Greater Chennai Corporation set up a helpline number, 1913, for assistance. Schools and colleges were closed on October 15, and residents were advised to check the TN Alert App for weather updates.

The Regional Meteorological Centre reported widespread rainfall across Tamil Nadu over the past 24 hours and warned of isolated heavy rain in the coming days. Fishermen were advised to stay out of the sea due to expected strong winds. According to the latest data, areas in Pudukkottai, Tiruvallur, and Chennai recorded significant rainfall, contributing to the overall impact of the monsoon across the state.

Agencies