Cyclone Nada weakens, yet brings some rain to parched Tamil Nadu

CHENNAI/ CUDDALORE: Cyclone Nada, which gave some hope of bringing the much-needed rains to Tamil Nadu, which witnessed its driest November in 150 year, weakened on Thursday and is expected to make a landfall near Cuddalore on early Friday morning.

Nada may have weakened into a deep depression, but it did bring rains in parts of Tamil Nadu though Chennai city, which has recorded more than 80 per cent deficiency in rains this monsoon, received only intermittent showers. As Nada is expected to cross the Cuddalore Coast between Vedaraniyam and Puducherry on Friday morning, the Tamil Nadu Government made elaborate arrangements to secure people living in low-lying areas.

Revenue Minister R B Uthayakumar chaired a high-level meeting to review the preparedness of various departments in handling the situation arising out of the heavy rains that are expected to lash the Tamil Nadu Coast till Friday evening.

Intermittent rains that lashed the city on Thursday  resulted in traffic snarls and uprooting of trees, besides causing water stagnation in certain areas due to non-completion of stormwater drain works. Nine trees were uprooted and the civic body received over 68 complaints pertaining to civic grievances. With the educational institutions declaring holiday, arterial roads like GST Road and Velachery Main Road remained traffic-free.

However, roads in the city — Nehru Road and Mount Road battled traffic in the evening hours of Thursday when rains resumed after a brief lull. “Stagnation of water was seen in low-lying areas including Adambakkam and Ullagaram. Silt in the drains and pending works at others were the reason,” said a resident, B. Viswa.

All the nine trees that were uprooted in the city were cleared and ten boats are deployed near basin bridge with four inflatable boats, said a press release from Chennai corporation, adding that the subways belonging to corporation and highways were opened for traffic. Corporation has also arranged mobile high mast lights: 15 in all the zones and three in the regional offices (North, South and Central). “We have been in touch with various departments through Whatsapp and Gmail. We have resolved 25 landline connections. Out of 68 complaints received through the toll free number (1913), ten were solved,” said the official.

Isolated rains in store for Chennai:

Cyclone Nada, which turned into a deep depression at about 290 km southeast of Chennai yielded highest rainfall to the city, Thursday, accompanied with occasional gusty winds. Hindustan varsity received the highest rains of 65mm, whereas Sathyabama varsity noted 54mm. Other stations in the city — Taramani, Guindy, Nungambakkam and Meenambakkam received 31mm, 40mm, 35mm and 34mm.

Against the early predictions of 45-55kmph, wind speed was very less, as the highest in the city was 27.4 kmph. Cuddalore region recorded lowest rains of 2mm. Weather blogger Sai Praneeth forecast no possibility of significant rains to Cuddalore Thursday. “Wind shear on Thursday morning played spoilsport and reduced the intensity of rains to the state,” he added. While isolated rains can be expected in Chennai and delta districts, moderate and widespread rains are on the way to Nilgiris region especially Coonoor and Kothagiri.