Tamil Nadu rains updates | Coastal areas in Tamil Nadu may have to brace for more rain till the weekend

The AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami on Thursday accused the DMK regime of being “administratively incompetent” to tackle the flood in Chennai. 

In a message on his social media handle, Mr. Palaniswami said the DMK government had been boasting of having taken up a ₹4,000-crore project for storm water drains in the city which could not “withstand the impact of even a normal level of rainfall.” He called upon his party workers to go to the rescue of rain-hit people. - T. Ramakrishnan

The Greater Chennai Corporation will check for exposed wires and leaks in dug-up spots around the city. The move follows the death of a 19-year-old worker from Assam, who was electrocuted below the GN Chetty Road Flyover. 

According to the locals, the incident took place at roughly at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, November 29, 2023. “There are many who work as security guards in this location, who leave for home by the path that this young man did. The police were instructing us to not use that side of the road below the flyover that was dug up, as some people had felt mild electric shock while touching the barricade,” a local worker said.

A watchman in the area claimed that while they crossed the road, the teen allegedly touched the barricade in an attempt to move, when the incident took place. 

Police personnel immediately took action, he said. 

Local workers further alleged that the road had remained dug up for over two weeks and no work was done there since the rains began two days ago.

Greater Chennai Corporation officials said they would look into the issue immediately and due diligence would be done. - R. Aishwaryaa

A 19-year-old native of Assam was electrocuted under the flyover of G.N. Chetty Road in T. Nagar, Chennai on the night of Wednesday, November 29, 2023. The Pondy Bazaar police have filed a case and are investigating. 

A senior official of the Chennai City Police said information was received at around 11 p.m. on Wednesday that a body had been found beneath the flyover, near a streetlight. During the investigation the victim was identified as Izazul, a young man working at a hotel. He was electrocuted when he crossed water stagnating on the road, due to a power leakage from the streetlight, officials said. 

Two teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have reached Marakkanam in Villupuram district in anticipation of heavy rains. 

According to official sources, the teams comprising of 50 personnel and led by Commandants D.V. Patel and Rahul Kumar, will be stationed in Marakkanam. The teams are equipped with rescue equipment, including life jackets, inflatable boats and cutting gadgets.

The teams will coordinate with the revenue and police department personnel in the event of any emergency.

Pattali Makkkal Katchi (PMK) founder S. Ramadoss on Thursday, November 30, 2023 said the stormwater drain systems have struggled to relieve water stagnation in Chennai and its suburbs, and called for review and changes to be made in the systems.

Dr Ramadoss said adequate measures had not been taken for rain preparedness, and this was condemnable. He said remedial measures should be taken now, on a war footing. While Ministers are reviewing the situation within the Chennai Corporation limits, there has been no action in other areas, he charged. Even in Chennai, despite complaints made through the Corporation helpline, there is no immediate action, he alleged.

Non-stop rains in the catchment areas in Vellore, Tiruvannamalai, Ranipet and Tirupattur districts are filling up irrigation tanks. Together, these four districts have a total of 4,167 water bodies including 1,119 Minor Irrigation (MI) that are maintained by the Public Works Department (PWD) with rest of the water bodies such as ponds, lakes and ooranis maintained by the Rural Development (RD) Department in these districts.

“We are continuously monitoring the situation especially in Jawadhu Hills as two rivers, Naganadhi and Kamadalam have been getting high inflow of rainwater from the hills for the past few days, S. Raja Ganapathy, Assistant Engineer (AE), WRD (Arani sub-division), told The Hindu.

Of the total water bodies, around 40 percent of them have reached their full capacity especially in Tiruvannamalai and Ranipet with another 10 percent of water bodies including irrigation tanks having reached 75 per cent of their total capacity on Thursday.

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As part of northeast monsoon preparedness, Ranipet Collector S. Valarmathi has set up a control room at the Collectorate for rain-related problems. The helpline for Tangedco related work including damage of electric poles, transformers and low-lying electrical lines is 9498794987.

For other rain-related issues, residents can dial 1077 and 04172-271766. People can also send pictures and videos of affected areas through 8300929401 round the clock.

A total of 47 flood prone areas have been identified in Ranipet district. People in these areas have been asked to move to safer places. Temporary shelters have also been set up by the district administration

Chennai Metrowater received nearly 1,170 complaints related to water stagnation and sewer blocks since last night through its helplines.

A press release said nearly 784 complaints have been resolved so far. The complaints were mainly on choked sewer lines, sewage pollution, rainwater stagnation on roads and damages in maintenance holes. Of the 1,170 complaints received, about 500 pertained to sewer blocks across Chennai.

Special teams have been formed in all zones to maintain sewer infrastructure and clear sewage blocks. The operation of 325 sewage pumping stations across the city are also being monitored. Nearly 2,149 field workers are engaged in solving sewer issues and pumping out stagnant rainwater on roads.

Besides doubling daily water samples collection to 600, chlorine tablets are being distributed in low level areas vulnerable to waterlogging.

Residents may contact the 24-hour helplines-044-45674567 and 1916 for complaints, said the press release.

AMMK general secretary, T.T.V. Dhinkaran, on Thursday, urged the Tamil Nadu government to take urgent steps to bale out rainwater from housing colonies in Chennai. 

In a message on his social media handle, Mr. Dhinakaran complained the current rain spell had affected people’s normal life and waterlogging in the Chief Minister’s constituency of Kolathur illustrated that the DMK regime, despite being in power for more than two and a half years, had not carried out measures for protecting people from the adverse impact of floods. There was also an apprehension among the people regarding the likelihood of accidents in some sites of incomplete storm water drains.

Water is being pumped out from a partially waterlogged Perambur High Road in Chennai

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin visited Ripon Buildings following reports of civic issues caused by the northeast monsoon rains in Chennai. Discussion with civic officials under way.

The Chennai Corporation has received complaints about water stagnation from 192 locations. Water stagnation at 50 areas has been cleared. The civic body has deployed 296 pumps to bale out water from locations reporting water stagnation.As many as 162 relief centres have been readied for accommodation of flood-affected residents. The city has received an average rainfall of 99.6 mm in 24 hours.

The civic body has deployed 296 pumps to bale out water from locations reporting water stagnation. Around 20,000 workers have been deployed for rain relief measures.

The well-marked low pressure area is likely to become a depression over the southeast Bay of Bengal by Thursday. The Regional Meteorological Centre, Chennai, has said the weather disturbance may further gain in strength and turn into a cyclonic storm over southwest and adjoining southeast Bay of Bengal.

If the system becomes a cyclonic storm, it is likely to be named ‘Michaung’, a name given by Myanmar for the tropical cyclones forming over the north Indian Ocean 

- K. Lakshmi

Rain lashes Ramanathapuram on Thursday, November 30, 2023.

Officials of the Water Resource Department estimate that the Adyar river would carry a flow of 10,000 cusecs, including water from Chembarambakkam reservoir and surface runoff from upstream areas. However, it may not lead to any flooding, the officials said. 

- K. Lakshmi

Shutter gates of the Chembarambakkam and Red Hills reservoirs were opened wider to let out more water on Thursday morning, following heavy inflows. While water discharge from Chembarambakkam was increased to 6,000 cubic feet per seconds with its water level reaching 22.53 feet against 24 feet. About 1,000 cusecs is being discharged from the Red Hills reservoir.

- K. Lakshmi

As of 6 a.m. on Wednesday, the rainfall recorded in Chennai was: Kolathur 16 cm; Ambattur 15 cm and Anna Nagar Malar Colony 14 cm. Kodambakkam, Maduravoyal and Puzhal recorded 12 cm; Anna University, Teynampet and Kathivakkam recorded 11 cm; Nungambakkam (8 cm) and Meenambakkam (10 cm) were the other localities that recorded heavy rainfall 

- K. Lakshmi

A total of eights trees fell across Chennai following the heavy rains the city witnessed overnight. Tree falls were reported in various localities including Ambattur, Velachery and Gandhi Nagar. GCC officials said all eight trees have been cleared.

- R. Aishwaryaa

The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) said that apart from Rangarapuram two-wheeler subway, which connects T. Nagar and Kodambakkam, all other subways are now clear for traffic.

- R. Aishwaryaa