Chennai rain fury: Met department could not predict surprise rainfall, says Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin

`The weather department was unable to predict the heavy rains yesterday. We will take up the issue of upgrading weather forecast systems with the Central Government`, the Tamil Nadu CM said.

Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Friday (December 31, 2021), a day after several parts of Chennai experienced over 20 cm rainfall, said the Meteorological department usually provided information on the likelihood of rainfall, but they could not forecast Thursday's heavy showers.

Torrential rainfall battered Tamil Nadu on Thursday leaving Chennai flooded the next day. 

CM MK Stalin also reviewed the waterlogging situation on Friday and assured the people that the problem would be resolved.

Stalin, who visited waterlogged areas in Chennai`s Tenampet along with the municipality officials on Friday, said, "Yesterday midnight once I reached Chennai from Trichy, I started reviewing the rain situation in the control room of Ripon Building where Chennai corporation officials monitored the situation. The waterlogging issues in Chennai will be resolved by today evening."

"The weather department was unable to predict the heavy rains yesterday. We will take up the issue of upgrading weather forecast systems with the Central Government", the Tamil Nadu CM added.

On Thursday, several areas of Chennai experienced more than 20 CM rainfall, he said. 

A weather forecast by the IMD (issued 12.30 hours on December 30) had said: "Thunderstorm with moderate rain is likely to occur at a few places over coastal Tamil Nadu. Thunderstorm with moderate rain is likely to occur at many places over Villupuram, Cuddalore and Delta districts, Puducherry and Karaikal. Light rain is also likely to occur at isolated places over interior Tamil Nadu districts."

As the heavy rainfall continued in Chennai and in several suburbs, traffic congestion was also witnessed. 

Meanwhile, people found themselves in knee-deep water in T. Nagar on Friday morning. Some inundated roads were also closed as their clearing was underway. People were also seen placing sandbags outside to stop rainwater from entering their houses.

"As many as 27 cases of tree falling have been reported in Chennai. More than 145 pumps are operating to clear the waterlogging caused by heavy rainfall in the city", said Greater Chennai Corporation Commissioner Gagandeep Singh Bedi said earlier.

Heavy rain caused water logging in Chennai which affected traffic movement at Jemini bridge and Valluvar Kottam, Thyagaraya Nagar (T. Nagar) and Usman road of the city. Antony, a local said, "Yesterday it rained heavily for six hours in our area (T. Nagar). I couldn`t go to my office today as a result of the flooded roads. The Met department has also predicted rain for the next two days. We appeal to the government to come out with a permanent solution so that that there is no water stagnation in our area."