The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : First spell of summer showers

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, May 04, 2007
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

First spell of summer showers

K. Lakshmi and K. Manikandan

Southern suburbs drenched, but little rain in central Chennai

COMING TO HER RESCUE: A woman who fell into an open drain that overflowed during the showers on Thursday in Tambaram being helped out by passersby. — PHOTO: K. Manikandan

K. Lakshmi and

K. Manikandan

CHENNAI : A peninsular trough that left the suburbs drenched on Thursday morning was however tight-fisted in allocating the first spell of summer showers to central parts of the city.

Compared to the showers that lashed the suburbs, including Adambakkam, Pallavaram and Tambaram, for about an hour in the morning, only light showers were seen across central and south Chennai.

The rains came as a surprise for residents bracing to face the beginning of `agni nakshatram' — the beginning of the month-long hot spell — on Friday.

In the suburbs, what started as a drizzle around 6 a.m. escalated into heavy showers by 10 a.m. The rain lasted more than an hour, leaving pedestrians and two-wheeler riders stranded.

In Tambaram, the showers were sufficient to throw traffic out of gear at important intersections, as policemen had not brought their raincoats along with them.

The rainwater drove out the sewage from drains adjacent to Grand Southern Trunk Road on to the road. Pedestrians had to wade through ankle-deep water.

A woman, Nirmala, of Urapakkam fell into an open drain near the road and was helped out by passers-by and shop owners.

The limited use subway for two-wheelers and cars near the Tambaram level crossing was flooded and moped riders were seen pushing their vehicles after water entered their engines.

Roads in several places had been dug up for restoration works and the rains left them waterlogged and slushy.

The rainfall recorded was just 2.3 mm in Meenambakkam, but it helped bring down the day's temperature to 35 degrees Celsius.

In contrast, Nungambakkam, which received trace rainfall, recorded a relatively high temperature of 36 degrees Celsius between 8.30 a.m. and 5.30 p.m. on Thursday compared to the previous day.

A Meteorological department official attributed the rainfall to a trough formed at lower level over south peninsular region.

The rain occurred as the dry westerlies from the land came into contact with moist air from the sea.

The highest temperature recorded so far in the city since April 1 was 37 degrees Celsius at Nungambakkam on Tuesday and 38 degrees Celsius at Meenambakkam on Wednesday. The peak summer temperatures are normally experienced in the second half of May. Last year, the mercury soared to 42 degrees Celsius in May, the official said.

Another official said the mercury had peaked at 45 degrees Celsius in May 2003. The Met department has forecast a partly cloudy sky and possibility of showers or thundershowers in the city on Friday.

Other parts of the state also experienced considerable rainfall on Thursday. Kattumannarkoil in Cuddalore district recorded the highest rainfall of 5 cm during the 24-hour duration ending 8.30 a.m.

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