TN braces for heavy rains today: Thunderstorms, lightning warning issued

Chennai: The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) has forecast heavy rainfall in many districts of Tamil Nadu on Friday. Areas in districts such as Nilgiris, Coimbatore, Tiruppur, Theni, Dindigul, and Kanyakumari are likely to experience heavy rains.

Currently, heavy rains are affecting the western part of Tamil Nadu, with Coimbatore and Tiruppur experiencing flooding. The weather department has also warned of thunderstorms with lightning in various parts of the state.

In the last 24 hours, Krishnagiri and Kanyakumari saw the highest rainfall, with 12 cm recorded. Thoothukudi received 11 cm, while Kallakurichi and Tirupathur each had 9 cm of rain. Besides the western districts, areas like Dindigul, Theni, and Erode are also facing heavy rain.

In Sellur, recent heavy rain has caused serious flooding. The Panthalkudi canal, which channels water from the Sellur tank to the Vaigai River, has overflowed in multiple spots, flooding the surrounding areas. The canal, about 2.6 km long, is currently overwhelmed.

Erode district has also been hit hard, with water logging affecting main roads and homes. Many houses in Erode city have been flooded, and the railway tunnels at Vendipalayam are completely underwater, trapping vehicles. Suburban areas like Modalirichi and Kavindapadi have also suffered from the heavy rains.

As the northeast monsoon begins, the Tamil Nadu Health Department is warning residents to be careful about diseases like dengue, malaria, and leptospirosis. Since January 2024, Tamil Nadu has reported 18,000 cases of dengue. The Public Health Department is urging people to clear stagnant water from their surroundings to stop mosquito breeding.

To tackle health issues, the Health Department has set up monsoon camps across the state to check for dengue, malaria, leptospirosis, influenza, and other illnesses.

Agency