Tamil Nadu rains: Death toll rises to 14, Chennai airport suspends arrivals till 6 pm

Chennai: As many as 14 people have lost their lives in Tamil Nadu due to heavy rains, said Kumar Jayanth, Principal Secretary, Revenue Department on Thursday.

"Till now, 14 people have lost their lives in the state due to heavy rains. Due to overnight rainfall, there is waterlogging in parts of Chennai today. 13 subways waterlogged will be cleared, 160 fallen trees removed. In last four days, almost 20 lakh people given food packets in Chennai," said Kumar Jayanth.

Meanwhile, the arrival of flights has also been suspended till evening in view of showers and heavy winds, though departures would continue, authorities said on Thursday.

"Due to severe rains and heavy cross winds, arrivals at #AAI Chennai Airport will remain suspended from 1315 hrs to 1800 hrs, today. Departures will continue. The decision has been taken considering the safety aspect of passengers and severity of wind," the Chennai Airport tweeted.

In another tweet, the metropolis airport regretted the inconvenience caused to passengers due to severe weather conditions.

"Passengers are requested to contact concerned airline(s) for any updates regarding schedules. @AAI_Official."

The office of Divisional Railway Manager of Southern Railway, Chennai on Thursday said that the majority of the services from MAS to Tiruvallur had been suspended due to waterlogging of tracks at Avadi and Ambattur.

"Dear passengers, due to waterlogging of tracks at Avadi and Ambattur, most of the services from MAS to Tiruvallur have been suspended. There are delays on the north side towards Gummidipoondi due to heavy rains between Tiruvottiyur and Korukkupet. Please plan travel accordingly," said DRM, Chennai.

The depression over Bay of Bengal will cross the coast between north Tamil Nadu and south Andhra Pradesh this evening and the city would witness "strong" winds up to 45 km, the weather office here said on Thursday.

Districts in northern Tamil Nadu including Chennai, Kancheepuram and Villpuram are likely to receive heavy to very heavy rainfall, Deputy Director General of Meteorology, S Balachandran said, even as the city and its suburbs received sharp showers all through the night.

The depression over southwest Bay of Bengal moved west-northwestwards with a speed of 21 kmph during past six hours and lay centred at 5.30 AM on Thursday over southwest Bay of Bengal, about 170 km east-southeast of Chennai and 170 km east of Puducherry, the India Meteorological Department said in a bulletin.

"It is very likely to continue to move west-northwestwards and cross north Tamil Nadu & adjoining south Andhra Pradesh coasts around Chennai by the evening of today," it added.

As a result, Balachandran said, Chennai would witness "strong surface winds" ranging between 40-45 km, he told reporters.

"People should not venture out unnecessarily," he said.

IMD also warned of extremely heavy to heavy rainfall in six districts of the state.

Incessant rain caused water-logging in several parts of Chennai including the areas of Nungambakkam, Sterling road, KMC Hospital road due to heavy rainfall.

The Kodambakkam area of Chennai even witnessed trees being uprooted with water-logging due to heavy rainfall and wind.

Police said trees were uprooted in places like Egmore and Perambur.

Meanwhile, ESI Hospital located in Chennai's KK Nagar was water-logged on Thursday due to heavy rains. All the facilities including OPDs are operational in the hospital with the available manpower.

"The hospital wards including COVID19 wards are not affected," said Dr Mahesh of ESI hospital.

Personnel of Greater Chennai Corporation, police and Fire and Rescue Services were involved in various relief and rescue work, including pumping out stagnant water.

Most of the water bodies in the state, including the reservoirs meeting the drinking water needs of Chennai, the Mettur Dam in Salem and others are full and excess water is being released from most of them.

Meanwhile, Stalin spoke to Ministers and Special Officers deputed to manage the rain-related issues in various districts and reviewed the situation with them, an official release said.

He directed them to expedite the relief activities and ensure provision of quality food and medical facilities in relief camps.

He further wanted the authorities concerned to take steps to prevent crop loss. He also held a review meeting with top state government officials including Chief Secretary V Irai Anbu.

The chief minister also ordered constituting a six-member ministerial panel, headed by Cooperatives Minister I Periyasamy, to assess crop damage, especially in the Cauvery delta region, and submit a report to the government to expedite relief work, the release added.