Chennai may get a respite from downpour as there is a slim chance of a weather system intensifying into a depression, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
As the well-marked low pressure area has moved off north Tamil Nadu, there will be decrease in rainfall.
Meanwhile, four city reservoirs are fast filling up and now have 70 per cent storage of their capacity.
The situation at MMDA Colony, Arumbakkam, Chennai. On the early hours of Monday, water resources department officials opened the shutters of the Chembarambakkam reservoir that received a whopping inflow of 17,000 cubic feet per second. As the same inflow continued till noon, the discharge was increased to 1,000 cusecs into the Adyar river.
Flood alert has been issued to areas downstream of the reservoir such as Anakaputhur, Gowl Bazaar, Manapakkam and Gerugambakkam. Officials are monitoring the levels of the other reservoirs
A satellite image taken at 1400 hours IST by INSAT 3D. Courtesy: IMD Several lakes breached
The Rajakilpakkam lake near Tambaram breached at three places at 2 a.m. on Monday, flooding the residential areas, including, Gokul Nagar, Sathyasai Nagar, and Tellus Avenue. Over 2,000 residents were marooned without electricity and water supply.
The Selaiyur lake, which also developed a breach at the same time near the Government School on Velachery Main Road, flooded several flats and residential areas of Selaiyur and Chitlapakkam.
As the Pallavaram Peria Eri does not have a defined surplus course, excess water flooded areas like Ovilambakkam and Keelkattalai.
The Perungalathur, Manimangalam and Mannivakkam lakes were also overflowing for the third day and several areas of Perungalathur, Mudichur and West Tambaram were under six to seven feet of water. More than 5,000 residents were affected.
A swollen Adayar River in Nandambakkam, near MIOT Hospitals, Chennai. Holiday for schools
As a precautionary measure, the administration in many districts, including Chennai, has declared Monday a holiday for schools and colleges. Anna University, University of Madras, Law University and MGR Medical University have rescheduled the exams. Many establishments in Chennai have also declared a holiday.
PTI adds:
The number of people dying in rain-related incidents in the State so far has climbed to 71.
12 more persons were killed in incidents of drowning and wall-collapse between November 11 and 15, Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa said as she also took stock of the situation at a review meeting with her cabinet colleagues and officials.
Condoling the death of the victims, she announced a relief of Rs. four lakh each to their families.
12 infants among 22 airlifted
The Indian Air Force airlifted 22 people, including 12 infants, from rainwater-inundated parts of the city. The IAF officials said the evacuation was done from Ashok Nagar and another adjoining area of the city. They also airdropped 100 litres of water and 150 food packets.
“The rescue operations were carried out by Cheetah helicopters that took off from Tambaram and rescued people from Muduchur-Ashok Nagar area which is completely submerged,” a official said.
Tamil Nadu chief minister J.Jayalalithaa visits R.K Nagar during the rains in Tamil Nadu on Monday. Here are some pictures from our readers:
>@TheHindu at nanganallur >pic.twitter.com/uV7bEottrT
— Debasree Purkayastha (@DebasreePurkaya) >November 16, 2015>@the_hindu this is Thillai Ganga Nagar subway >#THRains>pic.twitter.com/iUd64CcVUA
— Sriram (@tsriram) >November 16, 2015 100 Feet Road near vadapalani >#THRains>pic.twitter.com/abh0jjtWtf
— TaMiL (@TaMiL8) >November 16, 2015>@TheHindu>#THRains chengalpattu floods >#lush green >#new waterfall has emerged >pic.twitter.com/nFSoB3U8sa
— rajapadhman (@rajapadhman) >November 16, 2015
