Chennai Flood Update: Schools And Colleges Shut; Transportation To Open Soon

Chennai: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicted additional rainfall in Tamil Nadu for the following two days and confirmed that the low-pressure system in the Bay of Bengal has developed into a depression on Tuesday evening.

Orange Alert Issued

Areas such as Nungambakkam and Meenambakkam in Chennai experienced significant rainfall of 13 cm and 10 cm, respectively, until 7.30 pm on Tuesday. The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) increased the orange alert to red alert for Chennai, forecasting isolated extremely heavy rainfall of over 20 cm on Wednesday.

#WATCH | Chennai, Tamil Nadu: Heavy rainfall causes waterlogging in several parts of the city

(Visuals from Choolaimedu area) pic.twitter.com/3hWHlXfPSL

— ANI (@ANI) October 16, 2024

Rainfall Recorded In Chennai

Nungambakkam: 139.0 mm

Meenambakkam: 116.4 mm

Ennore Port: 165.5 mm

Chennai city: 140.5 mm

Meenambakkam ISRO: 115.0 mm

Jaya Engineering College: 97.5 mm

Anna University: 154.0 mm

YMCA Nandanam: 134.0 mm

NIOT Pallikaranai: 122.2 mm

#WATCH | Tamil Nadu | Fresh spell of light rain lashes parts of Chennai city. Visuals from Koyambedu area pic.twitter.com/KIUmbFsnYw

— ANI (@ANI) October 15, 2024

Schools And Colleges Shut

The state government of Tamil Nadu declared a school and college holiday in four northern districts—Tiruvallur, Chennai, Kancheepuram, and Chengelpet—on October 16 due to heavy rainfall.

Government offices in Chennai, Thiruvallur, Chengalpet, and Kancheepuram, including public undertakings, corporations, boards, etc., will be shut on Tuesday.

Moving more North with less wind speed #Chennai #ChennaiRainsUpdate .Almost parallel to #Chennai coast pic.twitter.com/gjPG4VHdMI

— Chennai Weather-Raja Ramasamy (@chennaiweather) October 16, 2024

Nevertheless, vital services such as police, fire service, local bodies, railways, airports, airline services, port services, fuel outlets, restaurants, etc., and all the offices involved in disaster response, relief, and rescue operations will operate normally.

Chennai Floods Affect Public Transport

Flooding in over 300 Chennai spots caused disruptions to public transportation services. Authorities sent out workers with powerful pumps to remove water accumulation.

So far, there have been no other rain-related incidents except for a wall collapse and injuries to a person. Furthermore, the Southern Railway has confirmed the cancellation of four express trains, including the Chennai Central-Mysuru Kaveri Express.

Chennai people parked vehicles on flyover to escape from water logging ✅ #Chennai pic.twitter.com/he3iH8vnNk

— Vizag weatherman🇮🇳 (@KiranWeatherman) October 15, 2024

Multiple trains were rerouted, with their point of departure changed to Avadi, located several stations away from Chennai Central Railway station. A number of domestic flights were called off at the Chennai airport.

(A) Depression over southwest Bay of Bengal

The depression over southwest Bay of Bengal moved northwestwards with a speed of 10 kmph during past 6 hours and lay centered at 2330 hours IST of yesterday, the 15th October 2024 over the same region near latitude 11.8° N and… pic.twitter.com/0UHWzXqoYT

— India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) October 15, 2024

Flood Relief Operations

The state government has positioned disaster response teams, along with more than 200 boats, on high alert in multiple at-risk areas. Over 931 relief centres have been established in Chennai, Tiruvallur, Chengelpet, and Kancheepuram districts, with constant monitoring by IAS officers.

Flood like situation is visible due to Heavy Rain in #Chennai

Stay Safe Chennai 🙏 #ChennaiFloods
#ChennaiCorporation pic.twitter.com/rYz3e5rrgI

— 𝗣𝗮𝘄𝗮𝗻 𝗕𝗶𝗷𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗮 🌿 (@mpawanbijarnia) October 15, 2024

The chief minister, MK Stalin, examined flood relief efforts and directed officials to quicken the process of draining rainwater in areas susceptible to flooding.

கொட்டும் மழை உள்ளிட்ட இயற்கைப் பேரிடர்களை எதிர்கொள்ளத் தன்னலம் கருதாமல் - நேரம் காலம் பார்க்காமல் நம் துயர்துடைக்கக் களம் காண்பவர்கள் தூய்மைப் பணியாளர்கள், மாநகராட்சி ஊழியர்கள் மற்றும் அலுவலர்கள்!

அவர்களுடன் நானும் எப்போதும் முன்கள வீரனாகத் துணை நிற்பேன்.#NorthEastMonsoon… https://t.co/MopjVSbY6U pic.twitter.com/8hHCVlvbBf

— M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) October 15, 2024

CM Stalin also praised the efforts of sanitation/civic workers and officials and expressed his solidarity with frontline workers.

நேற்று அதிக அளவில் பெய்த வடகிழக்குப் பருவமழையால் பாதிக்கப்பட்ட பகுதிகளில், அனைத்து நிவாரணப் பணிகளும் முழு வீச்சில் மேற்கொள்ளப்பட்டு வருகின்றன.

தாழ்வான பகுதிகளில் வாழும் மக்கள் நிவாரண முகாம்களில் தங்க வைக்கப்பட்டு, அவர்களுக்குத் தேவையான உணவு மற்றும் இதர உதவிகள் பெருநகர சென்னை…

— M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) October 16, 2024