Schools and colleges in Chennai, Tiruvallur, Chengalpattu, and Kanchipuram districts of Tamil Nadu have been ordered to stay closed today amid a heavy rainfall alert. Chennai and its suburbs, including those falling under nearby Tiruvallur district, have been experiencing intermittent rains since Monday night.
Chief Minister MK Stalin also urged IT firms to allow the employees of these districts to work from home from October 15 to 18. He directed the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and Tamil Nadu Disaster Response Force be deployed in advance in the areas prone to be affected.
A senior IMD official on Monday predicted heavy rainfall in these districts. "In 24 hours, heavy rainfall is expected in Chennai, Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram, and Chengalpattu districts. Heavy rainfall is expected in north coastal districts from Delta till Tiruvallur tomorrow. Fishermen were advised not to venture into the seas. Red alert issued includes both quantity of rainfall and impact," said Deputy Director General of Meteorology, Regional Meteorological Centre, S. Balachandran.
The low-pressure area over the southeast Bay of Bengal is likely to intensify into a depression and continue to move west-northwestwards towards north Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and adjoining south Andhra Pradesh coasts during the subsequent two days.
Civic authorities said there has been no water stagnation in subways in view of preventive maintenance, water logging was seen in several places inconveniencing road users.
During the review meeting, the Greater Chennai Corporation officials informed that the civic body has readied 990 pumps, 57 tractors equipped with pump sets, and 36 mechanised boats to be used in case of any emergency. In addition, 46 MT bleaching powder and phenyl were available for sanitation purposes. About 169 fully equipped relief centres would become operational based on the situation.