Heavy overnight rain led to flooding in several areas of Chennai on Sunday. Nungambakkam recorded 21.5 cm of rainfall, the highest recorded in a 24-hour period since 2015.

Tamil Nadu has received a 43% surplus rainfall and Chennai registered a 26% excess since October 1.

After receiving a record rainfall in 24 hours till Sunday, Chennai will experience thunderstorms and heavy rain in the next 48 hours. Thunderstorms with lightning may occur in many other parts of Tamil Nadu, too, for two more days.

Here are the latest updates:

 

Chennai helpline numbers

 

12-09 pm

Ganeshapuram subway opened

Ganeshapuram subway has opened for traffic after water was drained
 
| Photo Credit: Serena

 

11-59 am

Visibility poor on all highways in Chennai

Due to fog and rain, visibility becomes low on all the highways around Chennai. The Vandalur – Wallajah road has a poor visibility as vehicles slow down due to heavy fog on Monday
 
| Photo Credit: S.R. Raghunathan

 

11-56 am

Rajalakshmi Nagar residents in Tiruchi rescued

Fire and rescue personnel rescue residents of Rajalakshmi Nagar, Kuzhumani Road as their homes become inundated due to incessant rains in Tiruchi on Monday
 
| Photo Credit: Srinath. M

 

11-54 am

Corporation worker clearing garbage in flood affected areas

Corporation worker clearing garbage in flood affected areas at Egmore on Monday
 
| Photo Credit: R. Ragu

 

11-52 am

Relief material distribution

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin distribute relief material at Old Washermanpet in Chennai on Monday
 
| Photo Credit: Jothi Ramalingam

 

11.25 am

Mettur dam expected to attain full reservoir level on Tuesday

 

With the water level at the Stanley Reservoir in Mettur Dam nearing 118 feet and the inflow at over 27,000 cusecs on Monday morning, Salem District Collector S. Karmegam has said that the dam is expected to reach its Full Reservoir Level (FRL) of 120 feet by Tuesday night after which discharge would be stepped up.

At 8 a.m., the water level stood at 117.61 feet while the storage was 89.71 thousand million cubic feet (tmc) against the capacity of 93.47 tmc. The inflow stood at 27,600 cusecs and the discharge at 350 cusecs into the canal, and 100 cusecs into the River Cauvery.

10.45 am

Better equipment could have helped: weather bloggers

Many felt the city was caught off-guard with no indication of such very heavy spells of rain, resulting in flooding everywhere. Weather bloggers, who have been continuously monitoring the changes, said while the northeast monsoon could spring a surprise with heavy rain over a short period like a localised phenomena, it was still possible to have at least better indications if the city had better equipment.

 

10-30 am

Analysing Sunday’s rain

 

10-15 am

20 low-lying villages in Vellore get flood alert

Vellore Collector P. Kumaravel Pandian issued a flood alert to 20 low-lying villages along the Mordhana river at Gudiyatham taluk in Vellore on Sunday as excess rainwater was discharged from the reservoir built across the river.

A round-the-clock special desk with helpline numbers – 1077; 0416-2258016, WhatsApp: 9384056214 – to complain about rain-related problems and emergencies has been set up at the Collector Office in Vellore. Due to continuous rain in the neighbouring Chittoor district (Andhra Pradesh) and catchment areas since the past few days, the reservoir across the Mordhana river, a tributary of Palar river, reached its full capacity of 261.36 mcft, causing the district administration to issue the flood alert. “We have banned bathing, washing clothes, playing and taking selfies along the river and check dams. Based on the rainfall report, a decision on holiday for schools and colleges will be taken on Monday,” Mr. Pandian told Rashtra News .

9-50 am

Orange alert issued to few districts

Heavy rains pounded some parts of the city and neighbouring districts till early hours of Monday, November 8, 2021. The Meteorological department has issued an orange alert for a few districts,including Chennai and Cuddalore, as heavy to very heavy rains may continue till Tuesday morning.

Nungambakkam in Chennai, received a heavy rainfall of 7.3 cm of rainfall till 8 a.m. on Monday, November 8, 2021. Other places in Tiruvallur and Kancheepuram districts had rainfall of heavy to very heavy intensity during the last 24 hours till Monday morning.

 

9-45 am

Holiday for schools in Puducherry on Nov. 8, 9

The government has declared Monday and Tuesday holidays for all schools in Puducherry and Karaikal.

An order issued by V.G. Sivagami, Joint Director of the Education Department, said, “Due to inclement weather and incessant rain, holiday has been declared for Class 9 to 12 on Monday and Tuesday in the Puducherry and Karaikal regions.”

9-35 am

Tiruvallur receives widespread rain

There was widespread rain in Tiruvallur district and water stagnation occurred in urban and semi-urban areas. Collector Alby John Varghese said that till 6 a.m. on Sunday, the district received 688 mm of rain, and till afternoon, another 300 mm was recorded.

“There was not much flooding in rural areas since the water ran off to open spaces,” he said. The district administration took 40 persons to a shelter at Perandhur. Since the district is home to major waterbodies, including Poondi, Puzhal and Sholavaram, and has rivers, including the Arani and the Kosasthalai, running through it, opening of the floodgates of the reservoirs and issuing a warning to those living alongside the waterbodies was a major exercise.

9-30 am

Heavy rain likely till Wednesday

The district is on yellow alert for isolated heavy rainfall from Monday to Wednesday, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.

The Thiruvananthapuram district administration has asked people residing in hilly areas that had received heavy rainfall in recent weeks to remain extremely alert as thunderstorms are likely in the regions.

9-30 am

Bhavanisagar dam nearing full capacity

With an inflow at over 2,000 cusecs, the water level at the Bhavanisagar Dam is inching closer to the Full Reservoir Level (FRL) of 105 feet.

At 4 p.m. on Sunday, the inflow into the reservoir was 5,025 cusecs while the water level stood at 103.86 feet. The storage was 31.84 tmc ft against the capacity of 32.800 tmc ft.

The discharge was 3,500 cusecs into River Bhavani and 1,500 cusecs into Lower Bhavani Project canal. The discharge into Kalingarayan Canal and Arakankottai-Thadapalli canals was stopped due to rain.

8-45 am

Madras High Court to hold virtual hearings

The virtual court mode, which came into extensive use across the State since March 2020 due to the lockdown to fight COVID-19, has come in handy during heavy rains in Chennai and three other contiguous districts.

Even though the State government has declared holiday for its offices on Monday, the High Court has decided to function online. A notification issued by the Registry on November 8, 2021, stated that the principal seat of the High Court in Chennai would continue to function in a restricted manner on the virtual mode on Monday.

 

8-30 am

Current update in Chennai City Traffic situation in view of North East Monsoon Rainfall

The Subways closed due to Water logging: EVR Salai/Gangu reddy subway, Vyasarpadi Subway and Ganeshapuram Subway.

Traffic diversion due to Water Logging: On EVR Salai vehicles coming from Central towards Nair Point are diverted at the junction of EVR Salai x Gandhi Irwin Point towards Egmore (CMDA).

At Pantheon Roundabout vehicles are not allowed towards RR stadium (Marshall Road), they are diverted towards pantheon road, vehicles are allowed on Marshall road towards Pantheon roundabout. 

 

8-27 am

Rain likely from today as low pressure brews over Bay of Bengal

A low pressure area is brewing over the southeast Bay of Bengal and its neighbourhood on November 9 and under its influence, rain or thundershowers is likely to occur over the north coastal Andhra Pradesh on November 8 and 9, meteorology officials have said.

A cyclonic circulation over the Bay of Bengal off south Andhra Pradesh and north Tamil Nadu coasts extending up to 4.5 km above the mean sea level persists.

8-25 am

Pounding rain keeps Chennai on alert

Heavy overnight rain led to flooding in several areas of Chennai on Sunday. Nungambakkam recorded 21.5 cm of rainfall, the highest recorded in a 24-hour period since 2015.

Tamil Nadu has received a 43% surplus rainfall and Chennai registered a 26% excess since October 1.

Following rain in the catchment areas leading to heavy inflows, the State Government gradually began releasing surplus water from reservoirs around Chennai including Poondi and Chembarambakkam. From an initial 500 cusecs, the discharge from Chembarambakkam was increased to 2,000 cusecs in the evening.

 

November 7

Rain claims three lives

Three persons died and a search was launched for two persons who were washed away in a river in Tamil Nadu, as heavy rain lashed many parts of the State since Saturday.

A 55-year-old man was killed at Royapuram in Chennai after a portion of the roof of his house, where he had been living alone, collapsed on Saturday night. M. Rajaram was asleep when the incident occurred.

8-20 am

Holiday declared in Tamil Nadu due to heavy rains

Collectors in Vellore and Ranipet declared holiday for all schools in respective districts today due to rain. In Tiruvannamalai, all schools and colleges have been closed due to rain.

Tirupatur Collector, Amar Kushwaha, declared holiday for all schools and colleges in the district today due to rain.

Chief Minister M.K. Stalin announced a two-day holiday for schools in Chennai, Tiruvallur, Chengalpattu and Kancheepuram districts because of the severe rain and the forecast of more rain for the next two days. He requested people to postpone their trips to Chennai for a couple of days.

Holiday declared for schools in Kallakurichi,  Cuddalore, Villupuram, Thanjavur, Mayiladuthurai, Perambalur, Karur, Pudukottai, Tiruchi, Ariyalur, Nagapattinam, and Tiruvarur districts.

 

November 7

One dead as heavy rain lashes Chittoor

The Araniyar reservoir in Pichatur mandal received heavy inflows in the last 24 hours and the irrigation officials lifted a gate and released 300 cusecs of water downstream towards Tamil Nadu.

Meanwhile, in view of the heavy rainfall alert for the next 48 hours, the district administration has kept the revenue and police personnel on alert in the eastern mandals.