Chennai: Chennai and neighbouring districts of Tiruvallur and Kanchipuram are likely to get another intense spell of northeast monsoon rains for the next couple of days due to a “well-marked” low pressure area in Bay of Bengal.
The second spell of NE monsoon rains began on Sunday night and a few areas in Chennai and the two districts experienced heavy rainfall through the night bringing with it usual problems of water logging in low-lying areas and power cuts in several areas.
“A low-pressure area in southwest Bay of Bengal has strengthened into well-marked low-pressure area. This will bring heavy rains in Chennai, Kanchipuram and Tiruvallur districts and moderate rainfall in Cuddalore, Vilupuram, Puducherry,” S Balachandran, director, Area Cyclonic Warning Centre, said on Monday.
A forecast issued by the Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) said thunderstorm with lightning is likely to occur at isolated places over north coastal Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. For the next 24 hours, the sky condition in Chennai is likely to be cloudy. A few spells of rain or thundershower are likely to occur, heavy at times, the forecast said.
Balachandran also said that the well-marked low-pressure area is moving northwards away from Tamil Nadu coast. With the cyclonic system’s movement, the rainfall in Chennai and other districts will gradually decrease, he said.
In 24 hours that ended on Monday morning, Ennore near Chennai recorded 11cm rainfall. While Ponneri, Madhavaram received 7cm rain, Cholavaram, Red Hills, Taramani, Thiruvallur, Tambaram and Poondi recorded significant amount of rainfall.
550 complaints received in two days
The second spell of NE monsoon rains that began on Sunday night in Chennai and its suburbs brought with it usual problems of waterlogging in low-lying areas, stagnation in roads and power fluctuations in several parts of the city.
With more than 5cm rain poured in the metropolis in 24 hours, number of the residents raising their woes in monsoon control room, functioning in Greater Chennai Corporation’s Ripon buildings, is on a sharp rise. According to data released by Chennai corporation, 550 complaints have been received through emergency telephone numbers and WhatsApp in two days. “Of the total complaints, 230 complaints were received on Monday,” said a Chennai corporation official. On Sunday, the control room received 220 complaints.
“Most of the complaints received were pertaining to waterlogging. Chennai corporation workers with equipment have been deployed in various lowlying areas to clear waterlogging,” a Chennai corporation official said.
The first spell of NE monsoon rains, which began on October 30, lashed the metropolis for nearly a week and led to the rise in residents’ woes. That eventually resulted in Chennai corporation control room receiving more than 9,500 rain-related complaints.
“From Sunday morning to Monday evening the city recorded 5.33cm rainfall. Of 204 waterlogged areas, 109 locations were cleared. Works are underway to remove inundation at 95 spots. Also, the corporation removed a fallen tree on Monday,” a Chennai corporation press release said. To address rain-related issues, the civic body has deployed 790 workers, the press release added.
“With the Regional Meteorological Department (RMC) warning Chennai and its neighbouring districts of heavy rainfall for a couple of days, the control room and other civic body officials are kept at high alert,” a senior Chennai corporation official said.
