Chennai on red alert as northeast monsoon brings heavy rain; rescue teams deployed
Officials said 22 subways were cleared and 9 relief centres opened as rescue teams worked to keep flooding under control.
- On Sunday, October 18, heavy northeast monsoon rains lashed Chennai and neighbouring districts, marking the season's first significant spell. The Regional Meteorological Centre issued red and orange alerts for multiple Tamil Nadu districts due to forecasts of extremely heavy rainfall.
- An atmospheric circulation over northern Tamil Nadu and adjoining southern coastal Andhra Pradesh triggered the downpour. The RMC declared the northeast monsoon onset on Thursday, five days earlier than the normal arrival date, coinciding with the Southwest monsoon's withdrawal.
- Parrys in Chennai recorded 36 cm of rainfall, while Kathivakkam received 34.4 cm during the storm. Proactive operations cleared waterlogging from all 22 city subways by Sunday morning, though traffic on arterial roads like Anna Salai remained disrupted.
- To manage emergencies, the government deployed National Disaster Response Force and Tamil Nadu Disaster Response Force teams. AMMK founder T.T.V. Dhinakaran criticized the government, alleging inadequate precautionary measures against water stagnation despite official claims of control.
- Forecasts indicate continued heavy rainfall across Tamil Nadu and Puducherry through October 23. Residents in districts under alert should monitor official updates, as the state braces for further precipitation following the initial downpour.
33 Articles
33 Articles
Chennai Braces For Northeast Monsoon, Heavy Rain Predicted
The Tamil Nadu government has announced the contact numbers of zonal officials in Chennai for residents to report waterlogging complaints. As a precautionary measure, the state government has also established 220 relief camps and 110 community kitchens in Chennai.
Chennai on red alert as northeast monsoon brings heavy rain; rescue teams deployed
Chennai has been placed under a red alert due to forecasts of extremely heavy rainfall expected soon. Surrounding districts such as Kancheepuram and Coimbatore also received an orange alert for heavy rainfall. The Greater Chennai Corporation has undertaken proactive measures to manage the situation effectively. Relief centres have been established, and food distribution efforts are ongoing for affected residents.
Chennai faces an IMD red alert for extremely heavy rainfall as 90 NDRF personnel arrive to support flood preparedness.
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