Chennai: The IMD has sounded a red alert in Chennai and its surrounding districts for November 18 as the city is likely to receive extremely heavy rains.
Several district administrations have declared holiday for all educational institutions citing heavy rainfall. Mobile medical units have also been engaged to counter waterborne diseases.
According to a statement released by India Meteorological Department,- “a depression had formed over southwest Bay of Bengal at 8.30 a.m. on Thursday, Novembe 18, 2021, about 310 km southeast of Chennai.It is suspected to move west-northwestwards and cross north TN and adjoining south AP coasts by the early morning of November 19 “.
As the city is being lashed by rains since the past 24 hours, Kundalam in Tiruppur district received the day’s highest amount of rainfall across the State. Earlier today at 5:30 am, the Mullaperiyar dam informed breaching the 141 feet safety mark.According to a survey carried out by the Department of Agriculture, as of Monday, Tiruverumbur is the most affected block in the district recording inundation of 550 acres of standing paddy crops.
On the November 17, Chief Minister MK Stalin today, announced gift hampers totalling Rs. 1,088 crore for family cardholders and Lankan Tamils living in rehabilitation camps ahead Pongal festival next year. In all, 2,15,48,060 family cardholders and Lankan Tamil families are scheduled to receive these hampers. The hamper comprises of 20 essential items including raw rice, jaggery, cashew, resins, moong dal, ghee, turmeric powder, chilli powder, coriander, mustard, cumin, tamarind, cardamom, urad dhal, Bengal gram, wheat flour, rava, and salt.