Chennai: The dark clouds that hung over northern Tamil Nadu since November 27 cleared on Friday, bringing a brief respite from the intermittent rains and the associated problems that they brought in the wake, even as the State geared up to face heavy showers on Sunday and Monday with the well-marked low pressure over the Bay of Bengal intensifying into a cyclonic storm and moving northwards.
Chief Minister M K Stalin spoke to the Collectors of 12 districts – Chennai, Thiruvallur, Chengalpattu, Kanchipuram, Villupuram, Cuddalore, Mayiladuthurai, Nagapattinam, Tiruvarur, Thanjavur, Vellore and Ranipet – through video conference to take stock of the preparations made towards tackling the situation when squally winds, pouring rains, lightning and thunderstorm were expected on Sunday and Monday.
In the meeting through video conference, Stalin urged the Collectors to issue warnings to the people about the impending cyclone, making arrangements for starting relief camps with adequate stock of food and drinking water and other basic amenities.
He wanted trees that may be felled by the storm cleared immediately, keep emergency units of government hospitals open round the clock, set up kitchens to supply food to the displaced, reduce traffic snarls, clear stagnant water and inform the local Minister, Chief Secretary and department secretaries about their requirements for relief work.
While the prevailing northeast monsoon conditions are expected to bring scattered rains to the State on Saturday, the storm that is brewing in the Bay of Bengal will invade north Tamil Nadu and coastal Andhra Pradesh with heavy to very heavy rains on December 3 and 4. Sea conditions would be extremely rough, a weather report said demanding precautionary measures for offshore activities and sea borne platforms.
With the skies clearing up on Friday, water drained out of Chennai roads, facilitating better movement of traffic even as normal life limped back despite fears of more showers and flooding in the next few days persisting due to the weather forecast.
