Even as Chennai was straining every sinew to overcome problems resulting from heavy rain spread over a fortnight, the downpour on Monday and the forecast for Tuesday proved that the job would be even more arduous.
Many areas in and around the city are likely to get rain or thundershowers on Tuesday, according to the meteorological department. The trough of low pressure that persists over Maldives area is responsible for Monday’s heavy rainfall that pounded several areas of the city.
On Monday evening, heavy rain started pounding several areas, including Chintadripet, Vadapalani, Mylapore and Koyambedu and within a few hours, the weather station in Nungambakkam received a whopping 9 cm of rainfall. Between 5.30 p.m. and 8 p.m., the rain gauges in Anna University recorded 9 cm and Avadi 8 cm, Poonamallee 5 cm and Kolapakkam 3 cm between 5.30 p.m. and 8 p.m.
The continuing downpour would mean more surplus would flow into various city rivers, lakes and reservoirs for the eighth day. After Chembarambakkam and Poondi reservoirs, the shutters of Red Hills have been open since Sunday. The surplus course of Red Hills travels for 15 km before joining the sea near Ennore creek.
An official of Water Resources Department said: “We had to increase discharge from Red Hills lake as we have to maintain the water level two feet below the full level of 21.2 feet. Sand bags have also been placed in vulnerable areas along the surplus course such as Thandalkazhani, Vadakarai and Thiruneelakandan Nagar and Baba Nagar in Puzhal. People have also been warned of inundation.”
More areas on the southern fringes face the threat of flooding as lakes in Thalambur, Madurantakam and Cheyyur are overflowing. A breach in Thalambur lake had led to flooding of some roads between Navalur and Thalambur, affecting traffic flow and the showers aggravated the problem.
