N-E monsoon sets in; heavy rains predicted in next 24 hours

CHENNAI: The North East Monsoon today set in over South India, bringing its first spell of rains and the MeT department has predicted heavy to very heavy rainfall in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Kerala in the next 24 hours.

"While the South west monsoon has withdrawn from the remaining arts of the region, the North East Monsoon has simultaneously commenced over Tamil Nadu, Kerala and adjoining areas of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka on October 18," a bulletin from the MeT office said here today.

Chennai received the highest rainfall of 18 cm in the last 24 hours ending at 8.30 AM today,followed by Papanasam in Tirunelveli district with 16 cm and Puducherry 16 cm, it said.

For the next three days, rain or thundershowers would occur at most places over Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Kerala and at many places over Lakshadweep, coastal and South interior Karnataka and south coastal Andhra Pradesh, the release said.

In Chennai and its neighbourhoods, the sky would be generally cloudy and there may be a few spells of rain or thundershowers in the next 24-48 hours, it said.

A Puducherry report said, traffic flow came to a standstill with long stretch of roads remaining waterlogged in many areas.

Shops and establishments expecting to do good business for Diwali wore a deserted look as the public remain indoors due to the heavy rains since last night.

A report from Tirunelveli said, paddy crops in thousands of acres remain submerged as rains continued for the third day today in several parts of this district.

Crops in many villages including, vikramasingapuram, Sivanthipuram, Mannarkovil, Ambasamuthiram, Oookadi,Kovilkulam and Gowthamapuri, paddy crops ready for harvesting were submerged in water.