A ‘red alert’ has been issued for eight districts including Villupuram, Cuddalore, Mayiladuthurai, Nagapattinam, Tiruvallur, Thanjavur, Pudukottai and Ramanathapuram – signalling the likelihood of extremely heavy rainfall (over 20 cm in 24 hours)
The officials said that they were monitoring the situation as rains persist across multiple regions. Representational Pic/File/PTI
As the northeast monsoon intensified across Tamil Nadu, the Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) issued a red alert, predicting heavy rainfall for several districts, reported the PTI.
Chief Minister M.K. Stalin reviewed the situation on Tuesday and instructed officials to take precautionary measures to tackle the ongoing downpour.
A ‘red alert’ has been issued for eight districts including Villupuram, Cuddalore, Mayiladuthurai, Nagapattinam, Tiruvallur, Thanjavur, Pudukottai and Ramanathapuram – signalling the likelihood of extremely heavy rainfall (over 20 cm in 24 hours). The neighbouring Union Territory of Puducherry is also under red alert, according to the PTI.
Meanwhile, an orange alert has been issued for Chennai and districts including Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram, Kallakurichi, Ariyalur, Perambalur, Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli, and Kanyakumari, indicating very heavy rainfall (11 cm to 20 cm in 24 hours), according to officials from the Met Department.
CM Stalin conducted a video conference with district collectors and directed them to prepare relief centres for those affected by the rain. He also stressed the need to ensure availability of food, drinking water, and medical supplies. Authorities have been asked to keep equipment such as JCB machines, motor pumps, boats, trucks and tree-cutting saws on standby, as per the PTI.
Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin inspected ongoing infrastructure works in south Chennai aimed at improving drainage and flood management. These include widening and deepening canals, constructing stormwater drains, and desilting estuarine areas to allow better flow of floodwater into the sea. He visited the Okkiam Madhavi canal project, which is being carried out at a cost of Rs 27 crore, and also reviewed work in Kannagi Nagar.
In southern Tamil Nadu, relentless rain in and around Ambasamudram in Tirunelveli district over the past two days has badly hit paddy farmers. Thousands of acres of ripe paddy remain unharvested due to the lack of dry days between the southwest and northeast monsoons.
Farmer Subramaniam from Kakanallur village told PTI that fields are flooded and some crops have even begun to sprout prematurely. He appealed to the government to start doorstep procurement of harvested rice to ease the burden on farmers.
Many agricultural villages in Tirunelveli, such as Mannarkoil, Ayan, Thiruvaalieswaram, Kakanallur, Vaigaikulam and Bramadesam, are experiencing waterlogging, damaging crops and disrupting daily life, the news agency reported.
The officials said that they were monitoring the situation as rains persist across multiple regions.
(with PTI inputs)
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