Northeast monsoon intensifies across Tamil Nadu; NDRF and SDRF teams on standby, no casualties reported
Chennai, October 19: Extremely heavy rain lashed several districts of Tamil Nadu over the past 24 hours, with many places recording more than 20 cm of rainfall. The weather department has warned that heavy to very heavy rain will continue across the state until October 24.
According to the Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC), Parrys in Chennai recorded the highest rainfall at 36.3 cm. It was followed by Kathivakkam in north Chennai at 34 cm, central Chennai at 27 cm, Thiruvottiyur and Ennore at 22 cm each, and MGR Nagar at 19 cm. Twelve other locations in the city received more than 11.5 cm as the northeast monsoon gathered strength.
The RMC has forecast heavy to very heavy rain at isolated places, with thunderstorms and lightning, in 16 districts until October 21. These include Chennai, Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur, Coimbatore, the Nilgiris, Salem and Cuddalore. Heavy rain is likely to continue until October 24. The IMD also expects widespread rainfall over Kerala, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh during this period.
The state government said no lives had been lost and no major accidents had been reported. Senior ministers, legislators and officials have been assigned to oversee relief and rehabilitation work in affected areas. One NDRF team has been deployed in flood-prone areas, and four SDRF teams are on standby.
Tamil Nadu and Puducherry receive most of their annual rainfall during the northeast monsoon, which runs from October to December.
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