Chennai rain highlights: South-Western railway cancels few express trains due to waterlogging over tracks

Live updates: Rains subsided in most parts of northern Tamil Nadu, including Chennai, on Wednesday, providing relief to residents. Chief Minister MK Stalin stated that water stagnation had been mostly cleared. To assist the poor and common people, Stalin announced that free food would be served in Amma canteens in Chennai on October 17.

With the rain easing, traffic returned to normal in the city, and public transport services faced no disruptions. The Regional Meteorological Centre also listed areas in Tamil Nadu that recorded extremely heavy rainfall between 8.30 am on October 15 and 8.30 am on October 16.

The IMD has sounded an "orange alert" in two districts in Kerala, predicting very heavy rainfall in isolated places.

While northern Malappuram and Kannur were placed under an orange alert, 10 other districts, including Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Idukki, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Palakkad, Kozhikode, Wayanad, and Kasaragod, were given a yellow alert predicting heavy rainfall, according to the IMD.

Amid heavy rains and an orange alert issued in Bengaluru, citizens are reporting cases of water seepage into homes, office campuses and malls. The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike, municipal corporation responsible for the civic infrastructure and administration of the city, received complaints of water seeping into homes from 142 locations in the city on October 15. Read more.

A depression in the Bay of Bengal is moving towards the Tamil Nadu coast, prompting high alert in Chennai and surrounding areas. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported that the depression, currently centered 490 km east-southeast of Chennai, is likely to cross the north Tamil Nadu and south Andhra Pradesh coasts between Puducherry and Nellore by early morning on October 17. Read more.

S Balachandran, Director of Chennai Regional Meteorological Centre says, "Yesterday’s Depression over southwest Bay of Bengal moved west-northwestwards and lay centered at 0830 IST of today, over the same region, about 320 km east-southeast of Chennai (Tamil Nadu), 350 km east-northeast of Puducherry and 400 km southeast of Nellore (Andhra Pradesh). It is likely to move west-northwestwards and cross north Tamil Nadu - South Andhra Pradesh coasts between Puducherry and Nellore, close to Chennai during early morning of 17th October."

He adds: "There is no chance for the current system to be a cyclone."

Severe waterlogging was witnessed in parts of the Chennai district amid heavy rainfall in the region. Watch video.

Tamil Nadu deputy chief minister Udhayanidhi Stalin along with party leaders distributed relief materials to sanitation workers following the heavy rains in Chennai, reports ANI.

"No rainwater is being stagnated at present in Chennai and its surrounding areas. I thank the common public and sanitation workers for cooperating with the state government to make it happen. We are prepared to face anything even if rainfall occurs today," he says.

Chennai and several parts of Tamil Nadu experienced 'extremely heavy rainfall' resulting in the dams getting filled up fast.

During the past 24 hours till 8.30 on Wednesday, the Regional Meteorological Centre, Chennai, said it observed extremely heavy rainfall in many places.

The Cholavaram reservoir in neighbouring Tiruvallur district received 302.6 mm rainfall on a single day when the Northeast Monsoon commenced on October 15.

The Redhills lake, near here, received 279.2 mm rainfall while Chembarambakkam obtained 85 mm, Kannankottai Thervoy Kandigai: 62, Poondi: 60, and Veeranam: 50.20 mm rainfall. (PTI)

Live updates: "No rainwater is being stagnated at present in Chennai and its surrounding areas. I thank the common public and sanitation workers for cooperating with the state government to make it happen. We are prepared to face anything even if rainfall occurs today," said Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin.

He also distributed relief material to sanitation workers enagaged in flood relief operations in the city.

Live updates: The South Western Railway on Wednesday cancelled some trains due to waterlogging over tracks following heavy rains.

"The decision was taken due to waterlogging in the up fast line over Bridge No 114 between Basin Bridge Jn.(Chennai) and Veysarpadi stations," an SWR official said.

Train No. 20623 Mysuru-KSR Bengaluru Malgudi Express, train No. 20624 KSR Bengaluru-Mysuru Malgudi Express and train No. 16022 Mysuru-Dr. MGR Chennai Central Kaveri Express journey have been cancelled.

-PTI

Live updates: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu reviewed the rainfall situation in several districts of the state and directed the administration to stay vigilant and prepared for the heavy rains expected from the cyclonic storm on October 17.

CM Naidu also directed the officials to keep him updated on the conditions in the flood-affected districts.

The Andhra Pradesh Disaster Management Authority said that fishermen are advised not to venture out to sea and that the public should remain alert and take necessary precautions.

Live updates: Karnataka Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda said disaster response force personnel have been deployed in Bengaluru following a heavy rain forecast.

"We are redeploying another 40 personnel to be on stand by for any necessity. We have put Fire and Emergency Services on stand by for immediate response," he said.

The city civic body Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has set up 24X7 exclusive control rooms in eight zones and also launched a helpline number (1533) to report rain-related problems.

-PTI

Live updates: A depression in the southwest Bay of Bengal has intensified into a cyclonic storm and is expected to make landfall near the coast between Puducherry and Nellore on October 17 morning and is likely to cause heavy rainfall in several places of South Coast and Rayalaseema.

"The storm is expected to make landfall near the coast between Puducherry and Nellore by tomorrow morning. Heavy to very heavy rainfall is expected in several places in the South Coast and Rayalaseema, with extremely heavy rainfall likely in some areas. Along the coast, wind speeds of 40-60 km/h are expected," said Ronanki Kurmanath, Meteorological Department, Andhra Pradesh Disaster Management Authority.

Live updates: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin announced that food will be provided free of cost at government-run low-cost food canteens, called Amma canteens, on Wednesday and Thursday for people affected by the floods in Chennai.

“All the relief work is being carried out in full swing in the areas affected by the northeast monsoon yesterday. People living in low-lying areas are accommodated in relief camps and provided food and other assistance by the Metropolitan Chennai Corporation,” said Stalin in a post on X.

Live updates: The Tiruvallur district police in Tamil Nadu rescued hundreds of people affected by heavy rain from low-lying areas and moved them to nearby relief centres.

They were provided with food and other basic essentials such as water bottles and blankets. Police personnel continue to maintain a strict vigil in Chennai and other neighbouring districts.

Live updates: Rain in Bengaluru has forced match officials to postpone the toss for the first Test cricket match between India and New Zealand at Chinnaswamy Stadium.

Live visuals from around the stadium show that it is still raining steadily. Match officials are expected to conduct the toss once the weather clears.

Live updates: The Tamil Nadu government announced a holiday for schools and colleges across four northern districts, including Tiruvallur, Chennai, Kancheepuram, and Chengelpet, on Wednesday (October 16) as heavy rainfall lashed the state.

All government offices including the offices of Public Undertakings, Corporations, boards etc will be closed on Tuesday in Chennai, Thiruvallur, Chengalpet and Kancheepuram.

However, all essential services, such as Police, Fire Service, local bodies, milk supply, water supply, hospitals/medical shops, Banks, Financial Institutions, power supply, transport of vegetables, goods and other essential goods, Transport, MTC, MRTS, CMRL, Railways, Airport, Airlines Services, Port Services, Export and Import institutions, fuel outlets, hotels/ restaurants, etc., and all the offices engaged in disaster response, relief and rescue activities shall function as usual.