Date:23/11/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/23/stories/2008112359020400.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Low pressure to bring more rain in the city

Staff Reporter

Several interior roads at T. Nagar, Villivakkam and Koyambedu inundated

— Photo: R.Ragu

STEELY WILL: The heavy rain that lashed the city since Friday night did not deter many from going about their work as usual on Saturday. A scene on Sivasailam Road in T.Nagar.

CHENNAI: A trough of low pressure formed over the southwest bay and adjoining the west central Bay of Bengal off Sri Lanka, Tamil Nadu and south Andhra Pradesh coast will bring more rain to the city on Sunday.

Chennai recorded 84 mm of rain at Nungambakkam and nearly 50 mm at Meenambakkam during the 24 hours that ended at 8.30 a.m. on Saturday. The rain inundated several interior roads at T. Nagar, Villivakkam and Koyambedu.

On Saturday, the rain during the day was less. The observatories at Nungambakkam and Meenambakkam recorded 2 mm during the 12 hours that ended at 8.30 p.m. But sharp showers lashed the city after 9.30 p.m., making it difficult for those returning home and weekend revellers.

The Meteorological Department has forecast a few spells of rain or thundershower, heavy in some areas, on Sunday.

Traffic slowed down considerably in the morning hours of Saturday, owing to the flooded stretches in arterial roads of various areas, including Vepery, Anna Nagar, Vysarpadi, Tambaram, Tiruvottiyur and Ambattur.

Motor pumps ready

The Chennai Corporation has kept 70 motor pumps ready to drain water in flood-prone areas. On Saturday, it pumped out water from G.N Chetty Road, North Usman Road, Habibullah Road, Bazullah Road and North Arcot Road, and the Ganeshpuram subway in Perambur. Residents can contact 1913, or the nearby zonal office, for immediate assistance in the event of water-logging in their areas.

Residents of several areas complained of power disruptions on Saturday. Those in some parts of Choolai and Kolathur said the outage lasted for about an hour.

One killed

One person was killed at Thoraipakkam after he came into contact with a live wire on Friday evening. Veeralal, 35, a resident of Kottivakkam, employed in a welding shop, touched the wire. He was declared dead on arrival at the Government Royapettah Hospital.

On the same day, a cow that went past a transformer at Mannady was also killed.

Balloon burst

Meanwhile, tension prevailed at Nehru Nagar, Avadi, as a huge balloon launched by the Meteorological Department burst on the terrace of a house on Friday evening.

An official of the Department said such balloons were released in the morning and evening hours from the Meenambakkam observatory to check the atmospheric conditions such as temperature and the wind speed and direction. Public may inform the police about such incidents.