Met dept predicts heavy rains in TN for 24 hrs, commuters face hardship

Chennai: Fresh rains on Wednesday, lashed the metropolis and suburbs falling under Kancheepuram a Tiruvallur districts, bringing more areas under sheets of water and making commute a hardship.

The India Meteorological Department in a bulletin in Chennai said rain or thundershowers are likely to occur at most places over coastal Tamil Nadu and Puducherry and at many places in interior Tamil Nadu on Thursday.

"In the last 24 hours, fairly widespread rainfall has been recorded over Tamil Nadu. In the next 24 hours rainfall is expected over coastal region and southern part of the state," Met Director, S Balachandran said.

"Heavy rainfall is expected in Southern Tamil Nadu and coastal regions. Heavy to very heavy rain in one or two places," he added.

Parts of Vyasarpadi, Perambur, Choolai and Otteri in North Chennai, West Anna Nagar in Central Chennai and parts of Madipakkam and Keelkattalai in South Chennai are witnessing inundation.

Buses were delayed on several routes due to rains, and road users faced hardship in their daily commute.

With the resumption of showers, suburban Mudichur which was already witnessing waterlogging became almost inundated with residents facing acute difficulty in venturing out of their homes.

Several homes and retail outlets were seen shut in Mudichur which falls under Kancheepuram district, and roads wore a deserted look as there was hardly any movement of vehicles.

Civic authorities said staffers were being deployed round-the-clock to pump out water from roads and subways.

Over 400 water pumps were being used to suck water out of the roads, they added.

Districts including Thanjavur, Nagapattinam and Cuddalore experienced rains yesterday as well.

There were brief spells of rain in Chennai and in several parts of neighbouring Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur districts overnight.

Ponneri in Tiruvallur district received the highest rainfall of 10 cm followed by Cuddalore district which recorded nine cm for 24-hour period ending 8.30 am on Wednesday.