Authorities in Tamil Nadu say that schools and colleges in Chennai and other parts of coastal state will remain closed on Friday. This was after heavy rains caused water logging in several parts of the state.
The government has advised the IT companies to let their staff to work from home or remain closed. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami took stock of the rain situation, a day after two children were electrocuted after coming in contact with a live wire submerged in water, in Kodungaiyur locality, reported PTI.
Palaniswami held discussions with his cabinet colleagues including Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam and senior government officials. “Honourable CM of TN taking stock of situation arising out of #rains (and) giving instructions to Ministers and officers,” a tweet from the official handle of Tamil Nadu State Disaster Management Agency said.
The meeting came amid reports of downpour in many parts of the southern state, including Nagapattinam, where the monsoon fury has not only inundated low-lying areas, but also affected standing crops. Vaitheeswarankoil and Sirkazhi in the district have also been battered by heavy rains.
Twitter users have been posting the images of devastation caused by the heavy downpour.
Water logging at Broadway. #ChennaiRains ..!! #ChennaiFloodTrap Stay Safe.. Use Alternative Way Share Max… Morning Ppls use for Sendoff pic.twitter.com/0BLBBbXElM
— Chennai Flood Update (@ChennaiFloodTr) November 2, 2017
How water-logging issue was actioned in Puzhuthivakkam,Chennai? thread follows..
1st pic: Oct 30 2nd pic: this morning 3rd/4th pic: evening pic.twitter.com/UhRMd6q0zy— Arockia Edwin (@edwinarockia) November 2, 2017
Sorry Chennai..we never learned our lessons ? severe water logging everywhere !! Stay safe and Travel Safe everyone.. ? #ChennaiRains
— Yaseen Sahar (@yaseen_sahar) November 2, 2017
The Met office has warned of more heavy rains in coastal Tamil Nadu and intermittent downpour in others parts of the state.
“A low pressure has formed over the southwest Bay of Sri Lanka coast. During the last 24 hours, fairly widespread rainfall occurred over Tamil Nadu,” S Balachandran, Director, Area Cyclone Warning Centre, was quoted as saying.
Balachandran also advised fishermen in the coastal areas of the regions to be “cautious”.
Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu Fisheries Minister D Jayakumar today condoled the death of two children who were electrocuted at Kodungaiyur yesterday. He expressed his condolences to the families of Yuvasri and Bhavana, who died after coming in contact with a live wire submerged in stagnant water.
The minister told reporters that the government would not tolerate any “laxity” on such issues and pointed out that eight officials of TANGEDCO (Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation Limited) had been suspended in connection with the incident.
In 2015, Chennai had witnessed one of the worst floods in its history. The floods that year had killed more than 150 people.