Chennai records highest rainfall of year

Chennai: Chennai has recorded highest rainfall of the year since Sunday night. South Chennai, OMR, Tambaram belt experienced heavy rains, while the Delta belt is expected to received good showers in the coming days. MeT office forecast heavy rains in Cuddalore, Puducherry and Chennai besides Thoothukudi and Ramanathpuram districts.

After heavy showers across Tamil Nadu on Monday, the rains ceased for few hours during the day on Tuesday. Water logging in many localities had already affected normal life of the people, but most of the areas are expected to get rains on Wednesday.

Water-logging in various places including Vyasarpadi Jeeva, Velachery, Otteri, Madipakkam and other areas in North Chennai caused inconvenience to the residents. Rainwater entered the houses and as a preventive measure from upcoming rainfall, people were forced to vacate in some localities.

Regional Meteorological Center forecasted heavy rains and thunderstorms in interior areas and coastal areas of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. Intermittent spells of rain is expected to continue in various districts, including Cuddalore, Nagapattinam, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur and Nagapattinam.

“Cyclonic air circulation is moving over towards Southwest Bay of Bengal which is likely to cause rainfall in coastal districts of Chennai, Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur, Cuddalore, Nagapattinam, and Ramanathapuram,” said S Balachandran, Director of Area Cyclone Warning Centre.  While Cauvery delta region recorded the highest of 31 cm rainfall, Nungambakkam received 11.64 cms 2 cm and Meenambakkam witnessed 16.87 cms till Tuesday 08:30 am. 

Submerged tracks delay railway services

Railway passengers in Chennai had a tough time after heavy rains on Monday night disrupted the services delaying around six trains on the Egmore Chengalpattu sector.

While water-logging of signal boxes turned automatic signalling non-functional at many terminals, services resumed after an hour with the help of manual piloting on Monday night.

Railway tracks on suburban line were submerged in rainwater at some stations including Tambaram railway station and St Thomas Mount railway station.

Railway officials carried out clearance of tracks on Tuesday morning that delayed few trains on Tuesday morning.

Rail services also affected services for a few hours on suburban line and brought services at halt between Kodambakkam and St. Thomas Mount railway station. Train operations were stopped for about an hour between Chennai Park and Egmore Railway stations.