The Meteorological department has withdrawn red alert for Chennai and surrounding districts including Tiruvallur as there are slim chances of extremely heavy rain over the city on Thursday night.
Following incessant rains, many districts in Tamil Nadu have declared a holiday for educational institutions on November 18 and 19.
IMD withdraws red alert for Chennai
Also read: TN seeks ₹2,629 crore relief from Centre for rain-related damages
Here are the latest updates:
Red alert for Chennai withdrawn
The depression now lies 100 km south-southeast of Chennai and moved at a speed of 18 kmph over the past few hours. The Meteorological department has withdrawn the red alert for Chennai and surrounding districts like Tiruvallur as there are slim chances of extremely heavy rain over the city.
However, an orange alert that indicates heavy to very heavy rains has been given for Chennai and neighbouring districts as the system may cross between Puducherry and Chennai by Friday early morning. S. Balachandran, deputy director general of meteorology, Chennai said the land interaction had sheared the depression and reduced cloud cover. The upper portion of the weather system had already entered the land.
- K. Lakshmi
Announcement from Southern Railways
Due to water logging and heavy rain at Jolarpettai Yard in Chennai Division, the following trains are partially cancelled:-
Partial Cancellation:
1. T.NO.16085 Arakkonam - Jolarpettai MEMU EXP which left Arakkonam at 18.05 hrs today 18.11.2021 is short terminated at Katpadi.
2. T.NO. 16089 Dr MGR Chennai Central - Jolarpettai Yelagiri Express which left Dr MGR Chennai Central at 17.55 hrs today 18.11.2021 will be short terminated at Vaniyambadi.
Heavy rains lash Puducherry; normal life hit
Heavy rains lashed the union territory of Puducherry on Thursday disrupting normal life.
Puducherry recorded 13.8 cm rainfall between 8.30 a.m. and 1 p.m. Thursday. Schools and college in Puducherry and in Karaikal remained closed due to the incessant showers.
Chief Minister N. Rangasamy visited the rain ravaged residential colonies and explained to the people about the steps taken to alleviate their sufferings.
District Collector Purva Garg who visited various rain-affected villages along with officials of the Revenue, Local Administration and other departments Thursday, said in a release that since the onset of the north-east monsoon on October 26, Puducherry has recorded 68.2 cm rainfall. - PTI
Depression to cross coast by early Friday
According to an IMD bulletin issued at 5.10 pm, the depression lies over southwest Bay of Bengal off north Tamil Nadu, about 250 km south-southeast of Chennai , 220 km east-southeast of Puducherry and 210 km east-northeast of Karaikal. It is very likely to continue to move west–northwestwards and cross north Tamil Nadu and adjoining south Andhra Pradesh coasts between Puducherry and Chennai by early Friday morning.
Holiday
With heavy rains expected, a holiday has been declared for all schools and colleges in Chennai, Vellore, Ariyalur, Krishnagiri, Dharmapuri, Ranipet, Villupuram, Perambalur and Tirupattur tomorrow.
GCC planning to increase helpline call agents
The Greater Chennai Corporation is planning to increase the number of call agents for the civic helpline 1913, to strengthen disaster response during the Northeast monsoon that is currently prevailing over the State.
The number of call agents at the 1913 helpline was increased from 10 to 50 during the beginning of the monsoon, and now, the civic body is expected to increase the number of call agents to 100 shortly. The call agents will support residents during disaster events in the 426 sq km of the city this monsoon.
On Thursday, Corporation Commissioner Gagandeep Singh Bedi inspected the 1913 call centre and control room to facilitate better response to complaints from residents in flooded areas. During the rains on Thursday, the 1913 helpline received 500 complaints. The largest number of complaints on a single day in the city was registered during the previous spell of rain, with 6,000 complaints a day -- Aloysius Xavier Lopez
Second flood warning issued as water level in Mullaperiyar dam touches 141 feet
With the water level at the Mullaperiyar dam reaching 141 feet (permissible level 142 ft), the Public Works Department (PWD) authorities in Thekkadi have issued a second flood warning on Thursday.
Farmers in the region are hoping that as per the Supreme Court directive, the PWD authorities would store up to 142 ft in the Mullaperiyar dam now.
Second flood warning issued as water level in Mullaperiyar dam touches 141 feet
Kodaikanal ghat section cleared of trees
Dindigul District Collector S. Visakan told The Hindu that vehicular movement on the Kodaikanal-Thandikudi Thadiyankudisai ghat section was cleared at 1 p.m. after the highways authorities removed trees, which had fallen after a heavy downpour.
At upper Kodaikanal, many residents complained about disruption of electricity following rain. However, the municipal authorities said that works were being carried out on a war-footing since morning after the rain stopped -- L. Srikrishna
Low-level bridge submerges
Water level in the Korampallam tank reached its maximum storage level
After the coastal town of Thoothukudi recorded 37 mm rainfall in the past 24 hours, water level in the Korampallam tank on the city outskirts reached its maximum storage level on Wednesday night.
Subsequently, six of the 24 shutters of the sprawling water body, being maintained by the PWD, were opened in the night itself. The water gushing out from the irrigation tank submerged the Korampallam - Aththimarappatti causeway and entered the plantain grove neat Aththimarappatti.
However, vehicular traffic on the busy Thoothukudi - Tiruchendur Highway was not hit as the flood got drained in the recently desilted Uppaar Odai -- P. Sudakar
Chennai traffic update
The Chennai Traffic Police have effected traffic diversion at Vani Mahal junction. Vehicles proceeding towards Bazullah Road from G.N.Chetty Road –Vani Mahal junction is diverted towards G.N.Chetty Road, Habibullah Road.
Similarly, the vehicles intending towards Udhayam theatre are allowed in the opposite direction. At Udhayam junction the heavy vehicles from Kasi point and intending towards Anna main Road is diverted towards Ashok pillar.
All vehicles proceeding from EVR Salai and PLC junction intending towards Vepery is diverted towards EVK Sampath Salai to reach Vepery. - R. Sivaraman
T.N. Cabinet meeting postponed to November 20
A meeting of the Tamil Nadu cabinet which was scheduled to be held on November 19 has been postponed by a day, a State government press release said.
The meeting will now be held on November 20 at 6 p.m.
The State government said the meeting has been postponed as Ministers have been deputed by Chief Minister M.K. Stalin to oversee the precautionary measures in various districts where heavy rainfall had been predicted. — Dennis S. Jesudasan
Depression at 310 km southeast of Chennai
According to IMD, a depression has been formed over southwest Bay of Bengal at 8.30 a.m. on Thursday, November 18, 2021, about 310 km southeast of Chennai.
It may move west-northwestwards and cross north TN and adjoining south AP coasts by the early morning of November 19, the release said. — K. Lakshmi
Tiruppur records highest rainfall
According to a latest IMD release, many weather stations have been receiving heavy rains during the last 24 hours ending 8.30 a.m. on Thursday.
Kundalam in Tiruppur district received 20 cm, the day's highest amount of rainfall recorded across the State, the IMD said. — K. Lakshmi
Weather system to turn into depression
Many places in and around Chennai received moderate rains till Thursday, November 18, 2021, morning. The weather system is likely to further intensify into a depression in the next 12 hours. The Meteorological department has not made changes to the red alert issued to Chennai and surrounding districts so far.
According to a bulletin issued at 8.30 a.m., the low pressure area now lies as a well marked low pressure area over southwest and adjoining westcentral Bay of Bengal off north TN-south AP coasts with an associated cyclonic circulation. It is likely to intensify into a depression on Thursday.
The department forecast a heavy to very heavy rain spell may occur over north Tamil Nadu particularly Chennai and neighbouring districts with extremely heavy rains at one or two places. Parts of south Tamil Nadu may experience heavy rainfall.
IMD forecasts heavy to very heavy rain in north Tamil Nadu
550 acres of paddy crop inundated in Tiruchi
About 550 acres of standing paddy crop have been affected by water inundation in the district.
According to a survey carried out by the Department of Agriculture, as of Monday, Tiruverumbur is the most affected block in the district.
550 acres of paddy crop inundated in Tiruchi
Water level in Mullaperiyar dam reaches 141 ft
The water level in the Mullaperiyar dam has touched 141 feet at 5.30 am on Thursday, November 18, 2021, according to the Assistant Engineer, Thekkady.
Holiday in Puducherry
Holiday has been declared for schools in Puducherry and Karaikal on Thursday following heavy rains. — Dinesh Verma
Holiday declared for educational institutions
Following incessant rains, many districts in Tamil Nadu have declared a holiday for educational institutions on Thursday, November 18, 2021.
Holiday has been declared for Annamalai University in Chidambaram due to rain.
While the district administrations of Chennai, Nagapattinam, Mayiladuthurai, Tiruvarur, Pudukottai, Vellore, Perambalur, Villupuram and Ariyalur districts have declared holiday for schools and colleges, in Tiruchi, Thanjavur, Tiruvannamalai, Krishnagiri, Dharmapuri all schools have been ordered to shut today. — Our bureau
Chennai braces for another spell of heavy rain
With Chennai set to get another spell of intense rain on Thursday, Greater Chennai Corporation has kept 769 pumps ready at different vulnerable locations that faced flooding during the rain recently.
These included at least 50 heavy duty pumps that were of a capacity of 50 horsepower or more.
Chennai braces for another spell of heavy rain
Chennai, surrounding districts continue to be on red alert
The India Meteorological Department has maintained the red alert issued in Chennai and its surrounding districts for November 18 as the city is likely to receive extremely heavy rain. Rain will continue over Tamil Nadu till November 21.
Chennai, surrounding districts continue to be on red alert
Record realisation of Cauvery water in November
Tamil Nadu’s realisation of Cauvery water this month has set a record of sorts as it has crossed the monthly average, as worked out on the basis of the 30-year (1991-2020) data and as recorded at Biligundulu.
As of November 16, the State received 30.38 thousand million cubic feet (tmc ft) against the figure of 27.9 tmc ft.
Record realisation of Cauvery water in Nov.
(With inputs from Tamil Nadu and Puducherry Bureaus)
