NE NEWS SERVICE
CHENNAI, DEC 31
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has declared a holiday on Friday for all government offices except those engaged in essential services, schools, and colleges in Chennai, Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur, and Chengalpatu districts due to heavy rainfall.
It may be noted that three people lost their lives in Chennai due to electrocution and four subways were closed due to waterlogging.
வானிலைக் கணிப்புகளையும் மீறிக் கொட்டித் தீர்க்கிறது மழை. எதிர்பாராத மாமழையால் பல இடங்களில் மழைநீர் தேங்கியுள்ளதோடு, கடும் போக்குவரத்து நெரிசலும் ஏற்பட்டுள்ளது.#ChennaiRain pic.twitter.com/axXalH9IpF
— M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) December 30, 2021
சீரமைப்புப் பணிகளை நானும் நேரடியாகவே ஆய்வுசெய்து கண்காணித்து வருகிறேன். விரைவில் நிலைமை சீரடையும்.#ChennaiRain pic.twitter.com/o20FQVTkGx
— M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) December 31, 2021
Stalin visited the waterlogged areas of the city and met the Greater Chennai Corporation commissioner Gagan Singh Bedi and other officials at the commissioner office in Rippon building on Thursday night to evaluate the situation.
Traffic movement was slow due to the subways being shut and heavy waterlogging in certain areas of Chennai.
Revenue and Disaster management minister, KKSSR Ramachandran said, “Three people have lost their lives in Chennai and surrounding areas due to electrocution and disaster and relief work is in full swing. We have already shut four subways due to waterlogging and two companies of NDRF are already in the city.”
He also said that with respect to heavy rain forecast, the Chief Minister has declared a holiday on Friday in Chennai and adjoining districts.
Despite heavy rains claiming three lives due to electrocution, hope floated in Chennai on Thursday. Nearly 100 streets in Chennai city were waterlogged and the officials and employees of the Greater Chennai Corporation are at work to clear the waterlogging in the city.
KKSSR Ramachandran, Tamil Nadu Revenue and Disaster Management Minister, told the media that 106 streets in the city are waterlogged and once the rain stops, the waterlogging would be cleared.
The Minister said the tanks and reservoirs around Chennai are being monitored for inflow and if necessary they would be opened for safety.
Ramachandran added that rains received were high in Nandanam, Vadapalani and M.R.C. Nagar in Chennai city.
The Indian Meterological Department (IMD) said Nungambakkam received 12 cm of rain and Nandanam 8 cm of rainfall during the day on December 30.
S Balachandran, Deputy Director-General, IMD, while speaking to media said, “The interaction of easterly winds at lower levels and westerly winds at upper level has brought rain to the city. The rains in the city will continue till January 3.”
N Puviarasan, Director, Area Cyclone Warning Centre, while speaking to media said, “The unexpected fast movement of the easterly trough over Chennai coast has led to intense rainfall in the city on Thursday. Prediction of such heavy rains is impossible.”
Heavy rains have led to the increase in storage level of Chembarambakkam lake with the level rising to 98 per cent of the total capacity. The inflow, according to officials, is 2900 cusecs while the outflow from the lake is 1000 cusecs.
Several parts of Chennai and Kancheepuram districts continue to suffer due to waterlogging and the weather department has issued an alert of heavy rainfall in the districts of Chennai, Kancheepuram, Chengalpattu, and Tiruvallur on Friday.
