Heavy Rains Lash the City; Essential Services Crippled

Tamil Nadu: After heavy rains lashed the city on Wednesday, the low pressure area over the Bay of Bengal is likely to cross the coast by today evening stated IMD. “The depression over south-west Bay of Bengal lay centred at 0830hrs IST today about 130km east-southeast of Chennai and 150km east-northeast of Puducherry. To move west-northwestwards and cross north Tamil Nadu & adjoining south Andhra Pradesh coasts around Chennai by today evening”, cited the Met department.

However, Chennai continues to witnesses heavy rains today morning. Waterlogging has crippled the vehicular movement and also halted trains across the city. Parts of the city including the areas of Nungambakkam, Sterling road, KMC Hospital road are reporting severe waterlogging due to heavy rainfall. “Thunderstorm with moderate to heavy rain is likely to occur at one or two places over Chennai, Chengalpattu, Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram and Villupuram districts of Tamil Nadu. Thunderstrom with Moderate rain is likely to occur at one or two places over Cuddalore, Kallakurichi, Tiruvannamalai, Vellore, Ranipet, Tirupattur, Krishangiri, Dharmapuri and Salem districts of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry with in next three hours, the IMD informed. “

The state authorities have stocked more than 250 oxygen cylinders at Directorate of Medical Services campus and stay put 108 ambulances that will deliver them to hospitals (govt or private) in case of emergency. Additionally, 6,000 ltr of diesel- 4,000 ltr in tankers and 2,000 ltr barrel for emergency use in ambulances and generators has also been reserved by the state health department.

Reviewing culverting works in low-lying areas today, the Chief Minister blamed the earlier AIADMK regime. He said, “Shoddy job and corruption are the reason for losses in T Nagar. We have done up to 60 per cent of the work in just six months. After the rainy season, we will set the rest of Chennai right and avert further loss.” Anguish took over the residents as the city faced the rampage by the heavy downpour. More than 65,000 houses in Chennai faced a snap in power supply.