New Delhi, Dec 3: Rains will continue to batter Tamil Nadu for the next seven days and the next 48 hours are “very crucial”, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has said.
IMD Director General Laxman Singh Rathore attributed the heavy rains to a “trough of low” over Southwest Bay of Bengal off Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka coast which will continue to bring rains over the next three days. Thereafter, the state will see an anti-cyclone activity which will be associated with “heavy rains” at some places.
“The phenomenon will continue for the next seven days, but the next 48 hours are very crucial. Neighbouring states will also see rainfall activity,” Rathore said.
A warning has also been issued for coastal districts of Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Andhra Pradesh (especially Nellore and Chittoor), interior Tamil Nadu and Rayalseema region of Andhra Pradesh.
The period October to December is referred to as Northeast Monsoon season over peninsular India. It is a major period of rainfall activity over the southern peninsula, particularly Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Rayalaseema, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.
For Tamil Nadu this is the main rainy season accounting for about 48 per cent of the annual rainfall. Coastal districts of the state get nearly 60 per cent of the annual rainfall and the interior districts about 40-50 per cent of the precipitation.
However, this season Tamil Nadu alone has witnessed 50 per cent excess rainfall by December 1 itself. “Almost all districts of Tamil Nadu have received excess rainfall ranging from 10 to 150 per cent,” Rathore said.
According to the IMD data, Chennai has seen 89 per cent more than normal rainfall this season, while the districts of Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur, Vellore and Tirunveliveli received 154 per cent, 139 per cent, 136 per cent and 110 per cent excess precipitation respectively so far.
National Crisis Management Committee reviews Chennai situation
Meanwhile, the National Crisis Management Committee, headed by Cabinet Secretary P K Sinha, reviewed the situation in rain and flood-ravaged Chennai and assured Tamil Nadu government of all possible help.
During the meeting, Sinha took stock of the availability of foodgrains in Tamil Nadu and directed Ministries of Food, Agriculture, Health, Telecommunication and others to provide all required assistance to the state government to deal with the flood situation in Chennai and neraby areas.
NCMC also had a video conference with Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary K Gnanadesikan who briefed it on the prevailing situation, official sources said.
The Cabinet Secretary assured the Chief Secretary that all required flood relief materials will be provided to the state government.
The Chief Secretary conveyed that as of now they have adequate arrangements and mechanisms to deal with requirements of drinking water, food, medicines, etc.
He also conveyed that the state government has mobilized a large number of fishermen boats for which services of personnel from Navy and Coast Guard would be required and the Ministry of Defence was asked to make suitable arrangements for this purpose.
Principal Resident Commissioner of Tamil Nadu Jasbir Singh Bajaj attended the meeting.
NDRF has already sent about 600 personnel and over 40 inflatable boats to be deployed in relief and rescue operations in Chennai.
Union Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrish too had a separate meeting with senior officials of the disaster management division and directed them to be in constant touch with Tamil Nadu government to provide necessary assistance.
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh spoike to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa and took stock of the flood situation in Chennai and its neighbouring areas.
