Eight districts in T.N. brace for severe rain, put under red alert

Police, fire and rescue services, NDRF gear up for contingencies; several international flights cancelled or rescheduled at Chennai airport; cyclone warning in sea ports

Normal life remained disrupted for the fourth day in many parts of Chennai and coastal districts following rain and waterlogging on Wednesday, even as the north coastal regions in Tamil Nadu braced themselves to face the forecast of severe rainfall on Thursday. The India Meteorological Department announced the weather system has intensified into a depression and would cross the north Tamil Nadu coast close to north of Puducherry by Thursday evening.

The department has issued red alert for eight districts — Chennai, Tiruvallur, Ranipet, Vellore, Salem, Kallakurichi, Tirupattur and Tiruvannamalai — on Thursday as extremely heavy rainfall measuring above 20.4 cm is expected in one or two places and very heavy to heavy rainfall in a few places. Rain may be of heavy to very heavy intensity over 11 districts including Kancheepuram, Chengalpattu, Cuddalore, Dharmapuri and the Union Territory of Puducherry. Many other places may record rainfall of varying intensity.

The police, fire and rescue services and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have geared up to meet contingencies. The NDRF teams reached Puducherry and Cuddalore on Wednesday. Several international flights were cancelled or rescheduled at the Chennai airport and cyclone warning was hoisted in key sea ports.