Chennai rains: 13 NDRF teams on standby; WFH advised for this week
Chennai rains
Considering the extremely heavy rainfall predicted over Chennai and its three adjoining districts on Wednesday (Oct 16), the Tamil Nadu Government has requested that 13 National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams be on standby for deployment. Accordingly, the NDRF has readied 13 teams, with 30 personnel each, for immediate deployment.
For Tuesday (Oct 15)the Tamil Nadu Government has declared a holiday for schools and colleges in these districts. For IT firms, the Government has recommended Work from Home (WFH) from the 15th to the 18th of October, considering the weather system that is brewing in the Bay of Bengal. These recommendations were made following the review meeting held by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Monday.
According to the observations by the Indian Meteorological Department(IMD), a low-pressure area has formed over the Southeast Bay of Bengal. Over the course of this week, it is likely to become a well-marked low-pressure area and move west-northwestwards towards North Tamil Nadu and South Andhra Pradesh coasts, which puts Chennai city and adjoining districts on track for rainfall.
Further, there is a forecast for extremely heavy rainfall in Chennai and adjoining districts for Wednesday 16th October, on Thursday this could subside to heavy rainfall over the region.
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In Meteorology, a low-pressure area is a region where the atmospheric pressure is lower than the surrounding areas. Low-pressure systems often bring overcast skies, showers, or storms. Strong low-pressure systems can intensify into larger weather events like tropical storms, cyclones, or hurricanes.
As per the IMD's classification, heavy rainfall amounts to 6.4-11.5cms of downpour in 24 hours, whereas very heavy rainfall amounts to 11.5cms to 20.4cms in 24 hours. In case of extremely heavy rainfall, it is more than 20.4 cm in 24 hours.
NDRF teams on alert; State Govt monitoring situation
Thirteen teams of the National Disaster Response Force(NDRF), comprising a total of 390 personnel, are on standby at Arakkonam, near Chennai. In addition to this, one team has already been pre-positioned in Chennai city for any immediate requirements. NDRF teams are working in close coordination with the State authorities, to render assistance at the required time and place.
Each of these NDRF teams is prepared with rubber boats, tree-cutting chainsaws, communications equipment, ropes and harnesses, first aid kids etc. The NDRF has also set up a round-the-clock control room at 04 Battalion Arakkonam, near Chennai, to closely monitor the situation.
In the review meeting chaired by the Chief Minister, it was ordered that those in flood-prone and vulnerable areas be moved to relief camps, bread, drinking water and other essential relief supplies be stocked at relief camps, and levels of water bodies be constantly monitored.
