Chennai had a spell of heavy rainfall late on Saturday, where the city’s Manali area was hit by a cloudburst, as per the latest forecast from the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The rain kept falling throughout the night, and it caused many areas in the city to become waterlogged. There were warnings issued by authorities to ensure the safety of the public.
The heaviest rain occurred between 10:00 p.m. and midnight Saturday, but rain continued until 8:30 a.m. in the morning on August 31. In the worst-affected areas, Zone 2 Manali (Division 19) received 27 cm of rainfall, followed by New Manali Town with 26 cm, and Wimco Nagar in Zone 1 received 23 cm. The rainfall intensity has prompted the weather forecasting agency, the India Meteorological Department, to issue a red alert for Manali town and Wimco Nagar in its area, cautioning residents to remain indoors while also avoiding non-essential travel.
Local government and emergency authorities have been mobilised to track water levels and help residents in flood-prone low-lying areas. A number of roads and residential areas have reported waterlogging, which has affected the normal traffic flow. The IMD has advised people to take precautionary measures and keep themselves updated with local weather alerts.
Meteorologists observed that the cloud burst over Manali and adjoining areas was an extremely intense short-duration rainfall during which sudden flooding can occur and is life and property threatening. The IMD has predicted that scattered parts of Chennai city and adjoining districts are likely to see rainfall activity for the next 24 hours and advised citizens to be cautious.
Authorities have also warned of possible blackouts, traffic jams, and flooded drains in these areas. Fire and rescue services have been placed on standby in case of incidents occurring as a result of the heavy rain.
This cloudburst is a reminder of the extreme weather in urban areas.
Join our whatsapp group for Latest updates
Click Here for Chhattisgarh News
Click Here for Entertainment News