RAIN CONTINUES IN TN, CHENNAI GAUGES 93% MORE SHOWERS
CHENNAI: Rain fury continued in the city and other coastal regions of Tamil Nadu, with the metropolis gauging 93 per cent more showers than normal for the October one to November 4 period.
The MET department said low pressure area and upper cyclonic circulation in the Bay of Bengal are likely to bring more rains. Light to moderate rains were recorded in some areas in the state.
Eight persons have died so far since the onset of the northeast monsoon in the state on October 27.
For the October 1 to November 4 period, 19 cm of rainfall was recorded in Tamil Nadu against the normal of 21 cm, Director, Area Cyclone Warning Centre, S Balachandran said.
Chennai gauged 62 cm of precipitation against the normal of 32 cm for the period, he said.
Rains are likely to subside in twothree days in coastal areas.
In the past 24 hours, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry witnessed widespread rains in coastal regions and some places in interior districts, he added.
Talaignayiru and Thirutharapoondi in Nagapattinam district recorded 27 cm and 24 cm of rainfall respectively, he said.
Chennai received 6 cm of rains in Meenambakkam and 7 cm in Nungambakkam, Nagapattinam 9 cm and Ponneri 10 cm, according to MET department data.
Commuters had a harrowing time with rains affecting bus and train services. Traffic moved at a snail's pace in some areas.
Schools and colleges, closed since October 31, were shut today as well, while several universities postponed their exams.
The State-level National Talent Search Exam scheduled for today has been deferred to November 18.
Civic authorities, including Corporation officials, District Collectors (Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur) were coordinating relief work.
Power supply was suspended in inundated areas like parts of MKB Nagar in North Chennai, pockets of Madipakkam in South Chennai and Karapakkam off Porur in Western Chennai to ensure safety.
Netizens posted updates on traffic diversion, inundation on social media sites to help road users. Volunteers gave away food packets and water in affected areas in Nanmangalam and Pallikaranai here.
Chief Minister K Palaniswami had on Friday visited many waterlogged parts of the city and the suburbs, insisting that his government was working on a "war-footing". His deputy O Panneerslevam and senior officials had accompanied him.
Meanwhile, the Met department said rain or thundershowers were likely over coastal Tamil Nadu and Puducherry and at a few places over interior Tamil Nadu.