Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin visited the Ripon Buildings on Thursday to review the arrangements at the Command Control Centre in Chennai where the rainfall situation in the state is being monitored. He also answered calls from residents on the 1913 helpline, which was launched by Chennai Corporation, and instructed officials to better coordination among departments to address grievances without delay.Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin chaired a review meeting at the state secretariat with top officials on cyclone preparedness on Friday. This came as heavy rain continued to pound Chennai and its neighbouring districts in the southern state on Thursday, even as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast a cyclonic storm, namely 'Miachaung', likely over the Bay of Bengal.
During the meeting, Stalin directed all concerned state departments and district collectors to be on alert and take all precautionary measures. People living in vulnerable regions have been ordered to be moved to relief centres. Officials have been asked to see that no accident happens due to electrocution.
"Trees, which may fall due to heavy winds and rain, must be removed immediately. Equipment must be kept ready. Traffic police must take steps to ensure that vehicular movement goes smoothly," the Chief Minister said during the meeting.
He further asked officials to put special focus on the areas in Chennai and other Tamil Nadu districts that remain waterlogged, and said that pumps must be immediately deployed there to drain the water out.
The incessant rainfall in Chennai on Thursday caused even more waterlogging in several low-lying regions and traffic jams. However, there is no respite yet for Tamil Nadu as the IMD has predicted heavy rainfall, especially in coastal regions, between December 1 and 4.
According to the Met Department, rain along with thunderstorms and lightning is likely in Chennai and five other districts in Tamil Nadu on Friday. These regions include Chengalpattu, Thiruvallur, Nagapattinam, Ramanathapuram, and Kanchipuram.
Visuals on social media showed rain lashing Chennai and other regions of Tamil Nadu, with people seen wading through waterlogged streets wearing raincoats or carrying umbrellas.
No holiday has been declared in schools in Chennai and other districts for Friday. The educational institutions were announced to stay shut on Thursday.
A flood warning was issued for low-lying areas and six villages along the banks of the Adyar river in Kanchipuram district as water was released from Chembarambakkam lake, news agency ANI reported.
Meanwhile, Puzhal lake in Chennai, also known as the Red Hills lake, reached its full capacity on Thursday due to incessant rainfall over the past few weeks in the capital city of Tamil Nadu. About 389 cusecs of water were released from the lake yesterday.
In its latest bulletin, the IMD said that a well-marked low pressure area over the southeast Bay of Bengal and adjoining south Andaman Sea moved west-northwestwards, and turned into a depression over the southeast Bay of Bengal. It would further intensify into a cyclonic storm (Cyclone 'Miachuang') around December 3, and thereafter move northwestwards and reach the coasts of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh on December 4 as a cyclonic storm.
The IMD has issued an orange alert in coastal Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Karaikal, between December 2 and 4, and in coastal Andhra Pradesh, and Yanam for December 3 and 4. A similar alert has also been given to Rayalaseema in Andhra Pradesh for December 4.
Heavy rain has also been predicted in Kerala, Mahe, Puducherry and Karaikal today.
