Rain pounds TN, hits normal life in several parts

Chennai, November 16

Rain under the influence of north east monsoon on Monday hit normal life in several parts of Tamil Nadu where educational institutions remained closed, even as the weather office forecast heavy downpour in the next three days in the state, Puducherry and coastal Andhra Pradesh.

In Chennai, office-goers faced a harrowing time due to water-logging and delay in train services.

Several areas, including Mylapore (South Chennai), Vysarpadi and Perambur (North Chennai), have remained inundated since Sunday due to flooding.

The city has been experiencing continuous rains since Saturday night with the spell reduced to a drizzle on Monday.

The India Meteorological Department has warned of heavy rains in the next three days in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and coastal Andhra Pradesh.

Incessant rains continued in Nagapattinam district for the third consecutive day on Monday throwing normal life out of gear. Paddy crops in hundreds of acres remain submerged in this region.

Till 8 am on Monday, Tarangambadi in Nagapattinam district recorded the highest rainfall of 54 mm. Other areas in the district have recorded over 45 mm of rainfall.

More than 10,000 fishermen did not venture into the sea for the fourth consecutive day due to the rough conditions.

Senior IAS officer Shivdas Meena, who has been appointed the flood monitoring officer for Nagapattinam district, toured various parts of the district along with District Collector S Pazhanisamy.

Kollidam, Thalaignayiru and Ananthamangalam areas, which have been identified as flood prone areas, are under round-the-clock vigil.

Meena told reporters 12 cyclone shelters have been kept ready to offer emergency services. — PTI