Intermittent rain lashed many places in and around Chennai on November 18 as the depression over the southwest Bay of Bengal moved closer inland. The IMD withdrew the red alert for Chennai and surrounding districts as there were slim chances of extremely heavy rain. However, an orange alert, indicating heavy to very heavy rain, has been issued for Chennai and neighbouring districts as the system may cross between Puducherry and Chennai in the early hours of November 19.
The Union government has directed an inter-Ministerial Central team to visit Tamil Nadu and ascertain whether floods in the State can be considered to be of a ‘severe nature’ and make final recommendations for additional Central assistance to the State.
Read | Rain affected over 500 small and medium units across Tamil Nadu
Here are the latest updates:
Devotees cautioned against taking holy bath in the rough sea, Krishna river and canals
Heavy to moderate rains have lashed many parts of Krishna district since last night and the officials sounded an alert over a further heavy rainfall forecast.
Collector J. Nivas asked the public not to stay in dilapidated buildings and the villagers staying in low-lying areas, to shift to safe places.
In a video conference held on Friday, Mr. Nivas directed the officials of Revenue, Medical and Health, Irrigation, Fire, Police and Fisheries Departments to be on alert in the villages.
Three houses collapsed, youth dead, several towns flooded in Anantapur district
A youth died and three others were injured in three incidents of house collapse as there were incessant rains in Anantapur district during the last 36 hours.
The cyclonic storm that turned into a depression and crossed over from the Bay of Bengal to land at 5.30 a.m. on Friday, lay centered over Chittoor district and due to its pull effect, heavy rains were witnessed all over Anantapur district and southern parts of Kurnool.
Rain battered roads in Chennai
Heavy rains in Chennai
Eight persons dead
Eight persons including four children died after the house collapsed in Pernambet in Vellore on Friday. Five others were injured and admitted in GH, Pernambet.
Puducherry records a very heavy rainfall
Rains pounded parts of Puducherry and Cuddalore as the depression moved closer inland. Puducherry received a very heavy rainfall of 19 cm, Cuddalore (14 cm), Ranipet (11 cm), Tiruvannamalai (10 cm), Krishnagiri (8 cm).
In Chennai, Meenambakkam and Nungambakkam received moderate rains of 5 cm and 4 cm respectively till Friday morning.
Depression crosses coast on early hours of Friday
The depression over southwest Bay of Bengal crossed north Tamilnadu and south Andhra Pradesh coasts between Puducherry and Chennai between 3 a.m.-4 a.m. on Friday.
S.Balachandran, Deputy Director General of Meteorology, Chennai, said the weather system began crossing the coast around 1.30 a.m. on Friday and completely crossed by 4 a.m. It now lies over north Tamil Nadu. It may move further west-northwestwards and weaken gradually.
No respite from rains; yellow alert issued in Bengaluru
Citizens are unlikely to get respite from heavy rains that lashed Bengaluru on November 18. The India Meteorological Department, which has issued a yellow alert for the city for November 19, attributed the rains to the low pressure over Bay of Bengal developing into a depression.
Until 8.30 p.m. on Nov. 18, the city recorded 37 mm of rain and HAL 39.2 mm. The IMD had also issued an orange alert for the day. According to @Bnglrweatherman, this month is already the wettest November in the last six years with the city receiving 115.8 mm rains (till November 14).
Officials put on alert as heavy rains lash Chittoor, Kadapa
Heavy rain lashed all the 66 mandals in Chittoor district on Thursday, recording a rainfall of 2,218.8 mm. Tirupati Urban mandal received 88.8 mm rainfall, the highest in the district, while Gudupalle mandal received the least (8.2 mm) by Thursday morning.
The district adminsitration has put the officials on high alert for the next 20 hours in view of the forecast that the well-marked low pressure area over the Bay of Bengal off north Tamil Nadu-south Andhra Pradesh coasts with an associated cyclonic circulation is likely to intensify into a depression in the next 12 hours.
Flood alert issued in 40 low-lying villages
District Collectors of Vellore, Tiruvannamalai and Ranipet have issued flood alerts to 40 low-lying villages after release of water from reservoirs in these districts due to continuous rain on Thursday. A special desk with helpline numbers (0416-2258016; 7397389320; 7397392686; 7397397672) was set up at the Collectorate and Corporation headquarters in Vellore on Thursday for rain-related complaints. All schools and colleges will remain closed on Friday.
High wave warning and rainfall sounded for TN, south AP, Puducherry
High wave/ocean state warning/alert has been issued for Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh in view of the depression over southwest Bay of Bengal off north Tamil Nadu coast that moved west-northwestwards with a speed of 23 kmph during past three hours and lay centred about 250 km south-southeast of Chennai, 220 km east-southeast of Puducherry and 210 km east- northeast of Karaikal.
