North Tamil Nadu battles heavy rainfall, CM takes stock
CHENNAI: Northern parts of Tamil Nadu continued to witness heavy rainfall on Sunday, with chief minister M K Stalin assuring that all efforts to tackle waterlogging “is going well”.
While the rain has been intermittent in Chennai, adjoining districts of Kancheepuram and Thiruvallur registered 17cm and 13cm of rainfall, respectively, in a span of 24 hours.
In Mayiladuthurai, the district collector announced all schools and colleges will remain shut on Monday.
According to the Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) in Chennai, the heavy rainfall was caused by a low-pressure formation over north interior Tamil Nadu, which now lies over the southeast and adjoining east central Arabian Sea off the north Kerala coast, with the associated cyclonic circulation extending up to middle tropospheric levels.
“Across the state, in three districts, there has been very heavy rainfall, while in 32 places, heavy rainfall has been recorded,” the RMC said on Sunday.
“Maximum (rainfall) has been recorded in Kancheepuram district’s Uthiramerur (17cm). We have had 16% excess rainfall than the average during this north east monsoon season,” an official at RMC said.
Two people in Salem and Thiruvanamalai have died so far in rain-related incidents. As many as 16,807 people have been evacuated and moved to relief shelters, people familiar with the matter said.
Stalin was inspecting a few neighbourhoods in Chennai, including his constituency Kolathur, when a journalist raised the issue of waterlogging in the northern part of the state.
“Where is the water stagnating? Show me. Only when it rains, there might be water stagnation, but after sometime it drains out,” he said. “All the work is going well. The opposition is criticising us, but we have the public’s praise, that’s enough for us,” he said.
Stalin also said that the state will continue to experience rainfall but there is no danger.
He said he will be visiting Seerkazhi area in Nagapattinam district for inspection. “Tonight I am travelling to Seerkazhi and after Mayiladuthurai and Cuddalore to do an inspection,” he said.
Leader of opposition and AIADMK interim general secretary Edappadi Palaniswami demanded aid for the affected farmers. “It’s unfortunate that ministers and officials have not offered any comfort to farmers,” he said.