Heavy rains lash Chennai and Tamil Nadu coast: One killed in wall collapse as showers likely to continue for next few days

CHENNAI: Rains lashed several parts of Tamil Nadu today, partially disrupting normal life in some areas in this metropolis and claiming one life in Thanjavur district.

Though the showers, the first big spell after the North East Monsoon set in over the state last week, brought cheers in several parts hit by water scarcity, they also caused traffic snarls and inundation.

Several schools in Chennai closed ahead of schedule as the city experienced heavy showers.

A 38-year-old man died when a mud wall of his hut collapsed in Thinnaiyoor near Thanjavur district's Orathanadu which experienced heavy rains, police said.

The intermittent rains, under the influence of an upper air cyclonic circulation over South West Bay of Bengal, began last night in parts of the state, and intensified this morning.

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The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast heavy to very heavy rains in some areas of coastal districts, including the capital city and its neighbourhood, in the next 24 hours.

"The upper air cyclonic circulation over Southwest Bay of Bengal near Sri Lanka yesterday continues to be positioned in the same region," Director of Area Cyclone Warning Centre here S Balachandran told reporters.

Due to this, coastal districts and many places in interior districts were likely to witness moderate showers in the next 24 hours, he said.

Some areas in coastal districts of Chennai, Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur, Cuddalore, Nagapattinam, and Ramanathapuram might experience heavy and very heavy rains as well, he added.

Traffic in Chennai came to a grinding halt in several locations like the arterial GST Road and Anna Salai, affecting traffic bound for airport and other outskirt areas.

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Buses were delayed in several areas and parts of the city and suburbs witnessed water logging, affecting office-goers and school children.

Greater Chennai Corporation Commissioner D Karthikeyan said the civic body was fully geared to tackle the situation.

He said the corporation had over 450 water pumps which would be used in low-lying areas to bale out water in the event of waterlogging.

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Reports from Nagapattinam, Tiruvarur and Thanjavur said several parts the districts received rains since morning.

In a span of 24 hours, in Chennai, starting from 8:30 am on Sunday, the Nungambakkam observatory recorded a good 20 mm of rain, according to a Business Standard report.

Meanwhile, the Tamil Nadu weatherman, Pradeep John, who had become a reliable source for weather forecasts after the 2015 floods in Chennai, has been continuously posting updates on social media every few hours.

Heavy spells of rain were seen in Anna Nagar west. Ambattur, Valasarawalkkam, Koyembedu, Mogappair, Ambattur Estate, Porur, Maduravoyal, Nerkundram, and Nolambur areas of Chennai, said the Tamil Nadu weatherman.

The following is his latest update.

Earlier, the Tamil Nadu weatherman had posted on Facebook, assuring people that the monsoon showers should not be as worrying as the rains during the Chennai floods in 2015.

Rainfall also occurred at isolated places in the neighbouring states of Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Coastal Karnataka.

(With inputs from Online Desk)