Chennai Braces for More Heavy Rainfall as Northeast Monsoon Hits Tamil Nadu

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a warning of extremely heavy rainfall in parts of Tamil Nadu, including Chennai, over the next 24 hours due to the Northeast Monsoon being "very rigorous" over the state. The warning comes as heavy and widespread rains have already lashed the region, causing knee-deep water in residential neighborhoods and roads.

The rain is attributed to a depression in the Bay of Bengal, which is expected to cross the Tamil Nadu-south Andhra Pradesh coast between Puducherry and Nellore near Chennai on October 17. Heavy to very heavy rainfall is also expected in several other parts of the state, with the weather office warning of extremely heavy rainfall in isolated places. The heavy rainfall has already caused significant disruptions in the city, with civic workers scrambling to clear the aftermath. In the past three days, civic workers have collected a staggering 14,447 metric tonnes of debris and garbage in Chennai, with the largest quantity being cleared on Wednesday.

The sheer scale of the cleanup effort is a testament to the severity of the situation. Despite many workers' homes being flooded, 98% of the 12,000 workers reported to work, assisting in operations guided by the Greater Chennai Corporation. The cleanliness process was made possible with the deployment of 2,600 battery-operated vehicles, 50 two-tonne tipper lorries, and 11 ten-tonne trucks by Urbaser Sumeet. Zone 4 collected the most waste, with a staggering 627 MT cleared from the area.

As Chennai and the surrounding areas wait with bated breath for the Northeast Monsoon to pass, the city's residents are once again reminded of the resilience and determination of the workers who keep their city running despite the challenging conditions. The upcoming 24 hours will be crucial in determining the extent of the damage caused by the heavy rainfall, and the city's readiness in responding to the situation will be put to the test. The IMD's warning highlights the unpredictability of the weather, and it is essential for the authorities to stay vigilant in ensuring the safety and well-being of its citizens.