Overnight rainfall in Chennai caused waterlogging and flood-like situations in many parts of the city on Monday morning. After the heavy rains and predictions of rains in parts of Tamil Nadu, a holiday has been declared for all the schools in Chennai, Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur, Ranipet, Vellore and Chengalpattu districts for today, said the District Collector of Tiruvallur. Trees were uprooted in areas including Ekkatuthangal, Adyar and Nanganallur. However, Greater Chennai Corporation officials said the city civic body was busy clearing them. Even though the rains brought much-needed relief in the states, office-goers had a hard time braving the downpour amid traffic snarls in some parts of the city, as reported by news agency PTI.
In a video posted by news agency ANI on Twitter, several people and residents of Sri Sakthi Nagar in Chennai’s Arumbakkam were seen wading through the knee-deep water after a flood-like situation was witnessed after light to moderate rainfall in the state.
As per IMD, widespread heavy rainfall was recorded across Chennai last night. Meenambakkam recorded 137.6 mm rainfall from 8.30 am of Sunday to 5.30 am on Monday. Other areas such as Koyambedu in Chennai continue to receive moderate rainfall on Monday morning after widespread heavy rainfall last night.
According to the weather office, the Chennai Airport received the highest of 16 CM of rainfall during the last 24-hour period ending at 8.30 AM on Monday, reported PTI.
Amid this, international flight operations at the airport were also affected. Around 10 incoming flights, including from Doha, Colombo and Dubai were diverted to Bengaluru due to bad weather and heavy rains in Chennai. This also affected the departure timings of several flights in and out of Chennai.
The showers have brought relief to the people of Chennai from the sweltering heat that the city and its nearby districts had been witnessing over the past few days.
The weather office has predicted more such spells of rain for the city and its suburbs on Monday, reported PTI.
In its latest weather bulletin on Monday, the Regional Meteorological Centre said Chennai Airport (16 CM) and Taramani (14 CM) received the highest rainfall in the last 24 hours.
The rains also resulted in the water level in the various reservoirs meeting Chennai's drinking water requirements standing at satisfactory levels as per the official figures.
Several lakes in Chennai’s Kannankottai-Thervoykandigai, Poondi, Chembarambakkam, Cholavaram, Red Hills and Veeranam (Cuddalore dt) were at satisfactory levels, according to the Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (CMWSSB).