Chennai and Nagapattinam under heavy showers: What’s next?

Heavy rainfall affected multiple regions of Tamil Nadu on Sunday, including Nagapattinam and the state capital, Chennai. Despite the downpour, visuals from Thoothukudi showed vegetable and fruit markets operating normally. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast light to moderate rain in Chennai until October 22.

According to the IMD, rainfall is expected to continue across the entire coastal area of Tamil Nadu from Monday. Heavy rainfall is likely at isolated places over Nilgiris, Coimbatore, Tiruppur, Erode, Dindigul, Theni, Madurai, Virudhunagar, Ramanathapuram, Sivaganga, Pudukkottai, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Mayiladuthurai, Cuddalore, Villuppuram, and Chengalpattu districts, as well as in Puducherry and Karaikal.

The IMD has issued a yellow alert for Chennai, forecasting a partly cloudy sky with the possibility of moderate rain or thunderstorms accompanied by lightning. Light to moderate rain with thunderstorms and lightning is expected at isolated places over Nilgiris, Coimbatore, Madurai, Erode, Cuddalore, Villupuram, Chengalpattu, Chennai, Thiruvallur, Mayiladuthurai, Nagapattinam, Tiruvarur, Thanjavur, Pudukkottai, Ramanathapuram, Puducherry, and Karaikal. Moderate rain with thunderstorms and lightning is likely at isolated locations over Tirunelveli, Virudhunagar, Thoothukudi, Kanyakumari, and Tenkasi districts.

The heavy rainfall has caused disruptions in transportation and public services. Train services on the Nilgiri Mountain Railway (NMR) were cancelled on Sunday following multiple landslides. According to Southern Railway, earth slips occurred at several locations along the route, with boulders, mud, and fallen trees blocking the track between Kallar and Coonoor. As a result, the following services were cancelled for October 19: Train No. 56136 Mettupalayam–Udagamandalam, Train No. 56137 Udagamandalam–Mettupalayam, and Train No. 06171 Mettupalayam–Udagamandalam Special Train, as confirmed by the Salem Division of Southern Railway.

Earlier, the IMD announced that a low-pressure area is likely to form over the southeast Bay of Bengal. The system is expected to move west-northwestward and gradually intensify, potentially strengthening into a deep depression in the coming days.

In response to the heavy rains, the District Administration of Thoothukudi declared a holiday for schools after waterlogging was reported in several parts of the district.

The IMD has urged residents across the affected districts to remain cautious, stay updated with weather forecasts, and follow government advisories as the heavy rainfall and potential for thunderstorms continue over the coming days.