India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Wednesday evening issued a weather warning predicting isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall over the north coast Tamil NaduKerala, Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Yanam and Rayalaseema on 3 December.
The warning follows a week of persistent rain across the region. On Wednesday, the weather system – which had earlier weakened from a depression to a well-marked low pressure area – continued to track in a southwesterly direction over the north coast of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.
“Depression (residue cyclonic storm Ditwah) over southwest Bay of Bengal and adjoining north coast of Tamil Nadu-Puducherry slowly moved southwest and weakened into a well-marked low pressure area over north coast of Tamil Nadu-Puducherry and adjoining,” the IMD said.
The IMD predicts that it will further weaken into a low pressure area during the next 24 hours.
Impact and flooding
Heavy rain, which intensified earlier in the week due to Cyclone Ditwah, has severely affected large parts of Tamil Nadu.
Rains lash Chennai, nearby districts
Heavy rain lashed Chennai, Tiruvalal, Chengalpattu and Kaancheepuram districts, leading to flash and significant flooding. Residents of areas like Nungambakkam, Perambakka, Vyasarpadi and Kilpauk in Chennai reported wading through knee-deep water.
Villupuram, Cuddalore and Tiruvannamalai experienced frequent, heavy spells of rain as the system moved inland, while Ramanathapuram continued to reel under a massive flood.
Rescue and rescue operations are underway
The Fire and Rescue Department used boats to rescue nine persons from abandoned houses in Red Hills on the outskirts of Chennai and transported them to relief camps.
Greater Chennai Corporation teams are actively saving water and working to restore normal operations. More than 200 relief camps provide free food and temporary shelter to displaced families.
“We are trying to ensure that the underpasses are not flooded to cause hardship to people,” said a Greater Chennai Corporation official.
Anticipating severe conditions, the administration declared a holiday for schools and colleges in several districts on Wednesday.
The IMD had earlier issued a red alert for Tiruvallur, Chennai, Kancheepuram and Chengalpattu districts with a red warning of rain exceeding 15 mm per hour accompanied by thunderstorms and wind speed of up to 40-60 kmph.
As a precautionary measure, fishing operations remain suspended in the southwest and adjacent west-central Bay of Bengal, along the Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and southern Andhra Pradesh coasts, as well as in the Gulf of Mannar and the Comorin area, until the next official update.
