CHENNAI: Heavy rain continued to lash Chennai overnight into Sunday, inundating several areas, with Ennore Port recording 222.5mm of rainfall in the 24 hours ending at 5.30am. The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) has forecast heavy to very heavy rain in Chennai and neighbouring areas on Sunday, while authorities have mobilised thousands of civic workers and disaster response teams to prepare for possible flooding.The RMC attributed the rainfall to a cyclonic circulation over northern Tamil Nadu and adjoining southern coastal Andhra Pradesh. Satellite imagery indicated significant convective cloud development over north coastal Tamil Nadu and adjoining sea areas.Across the city, Ennore, Tiruvottiyur and Manali were among the affected localities in North Chennai. Broadway, Prakasam Salai, Mannadi and Parry’s Corner also received very heavy rainfall, with some areas recording around 30cm.Additional chief secretary and commissioner B Chandra Mohan said Kathivakkam, Tiruvottiyur, Parry’s Corner, Sathanagadu, Meenambakkam and Basin Bridge had received around 30cm of rain. He warned that central and southern parts of Chennai could also experience heavy showers.Rainfall data for the 24 hours ending at 5.30am on Sunday showed that Nungambakkam recorded 157.8mm and Meenambakkam 146.7mm. Other locations that received heavy rain included YMCA Nandanam (148.5mm), Anna University (111mm) and Puzhal (77mm).Greater Chennai Corporation commissioner G S Sameeran said rainfall in some parts of the city had exceeded expectations. More than 15,000 sanitation and other civic workers had been deployed across Chennai through the night to manage the situation.The Tamil Nadu State Disaster Response Force had deployed 100 personnel as a precautionary measure. National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams were also being sent to the city to assist with emergency operations if flooding worsened.Automatic rain gauges across Chennai were transmitting readings every 15 minutes, allowing officials to monitor rainfall intensity. Public Works and Sports Development Minister Aadhav Arjuna was scheduled to inspect the situation at Ripon Buildings at 1.30am.Weather blogger Pradeep John described the rainfall as Chennai’s heaviest spell since Cyclone Michaung in December 2023, which brought around 400–450mm of rain in a day.“This is the heaviest rainfall Chennai has witnessed since Cyclone Michaung in December 2023, which brought around 400–450mm of rain in a day. After nearly 25 dry days, these rains arriving with the onset of the Northeast Monsoon make this spell even more special,” he said.Meanwhile, heavy rain is forecast in 17 Tamil Nadu districts on Sunday. Besides Chennai, Tiruvallur and Kancheepuram, the districts likely to receive heavy rain are Chengalpattu, the Nilgiris, Coimbatore, Dharmapuri, Krishnagiri, Salem, Villupuram, Kallakurichi, Cuddalore, Ariyalur, Tiruchirappalli, Perambalur, Tiruvannamalai and Erode.The RMC has also forecast heavy rain across several districts on Monday, including Chennai, Chengalpattu, Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram, Villupuram, Cuddalore, Mayiladuthurai, Nagapattinam, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Pudukkottai, Ramanathapuram, Sivaganga, Thoothukudi, Kallakurichi, Ariyalur and Perambalur. Heavy rain accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning is also likely in Tiruchirappalli, the Nilgiris, Coimbatore and Tirunelveli.Chennai and its neighbouring districts feature in the forecasts for both days, while Monday’s outlook extends the possibility of heavy rain to parts of the Cauvery delta and southern Tamil Nadu.Separately, 4.15 lakh passengers travelled from Chennai to various parts of Tamil Nadu and other states on buses operated by state-owned transport corporations during the three days leading up to Ayudha Puja, according to the transport department.
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