Chennai/Hyderabad, May 19: The heavy rain, which sparked fear of December deluge, continued to batter Tamil Nadu, especially the northern coastal areas, since Monday night.
Though the downpour was not as heavy as the state witnessed during December, the non-stop flow has brought back the dreaded memories of the unprecedented floods, especially in Chennai, Thiruvallur, Kancheepuram and Cuddalore districts.
Deputy Director General of Meteorology Dr S Balachandran said the system is likely to intensify into a cyclonic storm in the next 24 hours. Thereafter it is likely to move northeastwards along and off north Andhra Pradesh and Odisha coasts during the subsequent 48 hours. “Under its influence, heavy to very heavy rainfall was expected over north coastal Tamil Nadu and Puducherry in the next 24 hours,” he said.
As the sea would be very rough, the fishermen from Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Andhra Pradesh have been advised not to venture in to sea during the next two days.
The state government on Wednesday directed the district administrations to take all precautionary measures.
The government also has set up a call centre with the telephone number 1070 to receive rainfall related grievances.
Meanwhile, two persons including a woman died due to rain-related incidents in Chennai alone.
Coastal Andhra
With heavy rains and squally winds lashing a few places across coastal Andhra Pradesh, the state government has alerted the district administrations to be prepared for any eventuality. While Nellore recorded a massive 18 cm of rain since Wednesday morning, Prakasam, Guntur, Tirumala, Visakhapatnam, Chittoor, Tada, Sullurpet, Kadapa, Anantapur and East Godavari districts witnessed moderate to heavy rains.
In Tirumala, devotees had a tough time as heavy rains pounded the precincts of the holy temple. Rain water entered the main entrance of the shrine. Fire tenders were summoned to pump out rain water.
With the impact of the cyclone running parallel to Andhra Pradesh coast, fishermen were warned not to venture in to the sea till further warning. Sea has advanced up to 20 metres in many places.
Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has directed the collectors to seek NDRF’s help to evacuate stranded people from low laying areas and to open control rooms by Wednesday night as IMD has warned the impact of the cyclone could last for 48 hours or even more.
Nature’s fury kills 12 in Northeast
Torrential rains accompanied by thunderstorms lashed parts of Northeast India in the past 48 hours, killing at least 12 people and injuring several others, DHNS reports from Guwahati.
At least 10 people were killed in landslides in Karimganj and Hailakandi districts in Barak Valley region of Southern Assam on Wednesday. This includes five members from a family at Sonachirra of Karimganj district. In neighbouring Hailakandi district, two incidents of landslides killed four persons at Bilaipur and a six-year-old boy at Ramchandi area. Across Assam, reports of flash floods and damage of critical infrastructure has been reported. In Guwahati, most of the busy roads have been inundated with rain waters.
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