Several areas in west Chennai including Anna Nagar, Avadi, Pattabiram and Thiruninravur experienced thunder accompanied by strong winds and light rain on Thursday afternoon.
After the nearly 45-minute thunderstorm activity, power cables snapped, electric poles and trees were uprooted and roof tiles on several homes were blown away in the strong wind in Avadi, Pattabiram and Thiruninravur localities.
Residents in Avadi said that they had also experienced a hail storm with pieces of ice raining down on them. However, the Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) here has not received any information about this.
Avadi resident S. Lakshmi said that power supply, which was disrupted during the storm at 2.45 p.m., had not been restored until about 10 p.m. in the night “The local fuse call centre told us that we would not have power even tomorrow, as several transformers and HT lines had been damaged,” she said.
Roy Rozario, general secretary, People's Voice, said that railway stations in Avadi, Pattabiram, Thiruninravur, Hindu College and Nemilichery too experienced power outages.
“A railway gate on NH 205 at Pattabiram was mangled. However, power supply for local trains was not affected,” he said.
Mr Rozario added: “Many residential areas in Pattabiram and Avadi have been plunged into darkness. We can only request TANGEDCO to send people and spares on a war-footing so that power supply in our homes can be restored.”
The RMC office has received calls from areas including Tiruvalluvar and Arakkonam of thunder storm activity.
Hottest day this May
Thursday was also the hottest day this May, with the weather observatory ini Meenambakkam recording 42.9 degree Celsius and Nungambakkam 41.8 Celsius.
On Friday, residents can expect partly cloudy skies. Rain or thunder showers may occur in some areas. The maximum temperature will be around 42 degree Celsius and an uncomfortably hot day may prevail.
