The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a
thunderstorm alert for Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, anticipating thunderstorms and lightning with moderate rain in isolated areas. The alert is in effect for three hours, starting from 7 am to 10 am on Saturday. This warning comes as the region grapples with relentless rainfall, causing disruptions and concerns over potential flooding.
IMD stated on X that
heavy rainfall was reported across Tamil Nadu on Friday. “Coonoor in the Nilgiris district experienced 9 cm of rainfall, while Alakarai Estate, Bilimalai Estate, and Barliyar recorded 8 cm, and Surangudi in Thoothukudi district registered 8 cm of rainfall,” it added.
Balachandran, the Director of the Chennai Regional Meteorology Department, indicated a forecast for additional
heavy showers in the Nilgiris and Coimbatore districts over the next two to three days, according to the report by ANI. He stated, “As many as 45 locations in the Nilgiris and Coimbatore districts recorded heavy rainfall in the last 24 hours, with eight places experiencing very heavy rainfall and two recording extremely heavy rainfall.”
The Chennai Meteorological Department highlighted the potential formation of a cyclonic circulation in the South Andaman Sea around November 25. This development raises concerns about the intensification of rainfall in the coming days.
The regional weather forecast department of Tamil Nadu has issued a warning for light to moderate rainfall in various districts, including Chennai, Thrivallur, Chengalpattu, Viluppuram, Kanchipuram, Cuddalore, Nagapattinam, Mayiladuthurai, Tirunelveli, and Thoothukudi, as well as in Puducherry and Karaikal areas.
The IMD further predicts heavy
rainfall at isolated places, specifically in Kancheepuram, Chengalpattu, Villupuram, Mayiladuthurai, Cuddalore, Nagapattinam, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, and Pudukkottai districts of Tamil Nadu, along with Puducherry and Karaikal areas on Saturday.
As a precautionary measure, all schools in Chennai will remain closed today due to heavy rainfall, as announced by the District Collector, reports Mint.
Meanwhile, Indian Railways has suspended train services on the Nilgiri Mountain Rail Route
due to landslides, with the railway track between Kallar and Runnimedu in Hillguro blocked after mudslides, according to ABP Live.
The Nilgiri District Collector declared the closure of all government and private schools in Coonoor and Kotagiri on Friday. Commuters are advised to exercise caution and stay updated on weather advisories during this period of heightened alert, the report added.
(Edited by : Sudarsanan Mani)
