New trough of low pressure to bring in more rains to Tamil Nadu

CHENNAI: Even as rain-battered Tamil Nadu limps back to normalcy, the Met office today warned that a trough of low pressure over southwest bay off Sri Lankan coast would bring in more rains with heavy spells expected in coastal districts.

The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) said rains were expected at many places in Tamil Nadu and neighbouring union territory of Puduchery in the next 48 hours.

It forecast heavy to very heavy rains in coastal districts and heavy rain in interior districts during this period.

In its forecast for the next 24 hours for Chennai and its suburbs, which bore the brunt of the active northeast monsoon fury in recent days with largescale inundation, will be generally cloudy with possibility of rains or thundershowers.

The toll in rain-related incidents in the state since the onset of the monsoon last month stood at 121.

Chennai and adjoining Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur districts, which encompasses most part of city suburbs, were battered by heavy rains since last week resulting in flooding and Army, Airforce and Naval personnel joined the civil administration in rescuing marooned people.

The fresh forecast comes at a time when the water has started draining in the low-lying areas in the city and suburbs following some let up in the rains in the past few days.

The Met office said Manimutharu and Nanguneri in Tiruneveli district received 9 cm and 7 cm of rainfall, respectively, as per statistics available at 8.30 AM.

Meanwhile, BJP leaders and Union Ministers Nirmala Sitharaman and Pon Radhakrishnan today visited flood-affected areas in the state.

Sitharaman, who visited the affected areas in Chennai and Kancheepuram districts, said she would tour Tiruvallur tomorrow, and submit a report to the BJP central leadership 'soon' on the extent of the damage.

She said the party has contributed Rs one crore towards flood relief.

Radhakrishnan inspected Cuddalore district, where the torrential rains wreaked havoc as a deep depression crossed the coast near the district on November 9.