Chennai rain update: Incessant rains cause severe waterlogging across Chennai | Video

Chennai, Tamil Nadu

Chennai rain updates: Heavy rains wreaked havoc in Chennai and other parts of Tamil Nadu on Tuesday (Oct 16). The residential neighbourhood of the city was brought to a standstill, including the house of Indian film star Rajnikanth. The roads were inundated with knee-deep water, disrupting day-to-day activities. 

The incessant downpour led to traffic snarls, crippled public transportation services and also led to cancellations of several domestic flights. Several trains were also diverted, some even stopped ahead of Chennai Central Railway Station. 

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the well-marked low-pressure area has intensified into a depression and is expected to cross the Chennai coast on October 17 morning.

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"Heavy to very heavy rain with extremely heavy rain at one or two places is likely to occur over Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram, Chengalpattu, and Chennai districts," the IMD bulletin stated.

Waterlogging was a common sight in several parts of the state, causing floods in many areas of Chennai.

In a desperate attempt to avoid waterlogging, several commuters park their cars on the bridge. A video went viral, in which several cars were parked on a bridge in Chennai to avoid damage caused by severe waterlogging in the city.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin also 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.

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“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.

Cyclone to move closer to Chennai on October 17

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, as per Andhra Pradesh Disaster Management Authority. 

It is likely to move west-northwestwards and cross north Tamil Nadu-South Andhra Pradesh coasts between Puducherry and Nellore, close to Chennai during the early morning of 17th October, said IMD.

(With inputs from agencies)