Chennai: The India Meteorological Department has issued red alert to Chennai due to the heavy rains that started lashing the district from Saturday night. 



Tamil Nadu’s capital city of Chennai and its neighbouring districts including Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur and Chengalpattu experienced heavy overnight rains, which are still continuing in many parts of the districts, on Sunday. The heavy rains, experienced as a result of the formation of a low-pressure area over the Bay of Bengal, have resulted in waterlogging in many arterial roads and inundation of homes in the city. Also, the rains are predicted to continue till Monday morning.


As per the official data released by India Meteorological Department at 8.30 pm on Sunday, Nungambakkam experienced a maximum rainfall of 215.3 mm followed by Chennai Airport with 113.6 mm of rainfall.


The overnight rains are the heaviest since 2015, which resulted in a deluge in Chennai, said independent weather blogger Pradeep John, running Tamil Nadu Weatherman page on social media. The city experienced 294 mm rainfall on December 2015. 



Also Read | Chennai Rains: Heavy Rains Flood Arterial Roads, Trees Uprooted As City Reports Inundation


Meanwhile, the authorities have started to issue helpline numbers to report about flood-related grievances in the respective districts.


Helplines


The Chennai Corporation has released a toll-free number "1913" to report grievances.


The public can also get in touch with the Corporation through WhatsApp number 9445477205. 


The Corporation has also provided three landline numbers to reach the authorities. The public can reach Corporation through numbers 04425619206, 04425619207 and 04425619208.


CM To Visit Affected Areas


To take stock of the situation, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin to visit Egmore, Dowton, KN Garden, Sathya Nagar Shelter, Padi flyover and the surrounding areas on Sunday. 


The district administrations have also issued orders to release water from Chembarambakkam, Poondi and Puzhal reservoirs since rains are expected to last till Monday morning.  The people residing in the low-lying areas near the waterbody have also been instructed to stay alert.