After 12cm rainfall on a single day on Sunday, the Met department in Chennai has sounded an alert for people in the northern districts of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry to prepare for deep depression by Monday afternoon.
Met department officials said that a depression is likely to develop in the Bay of Bengal and that could further intensify into a cyclone, expected to cross the coast by Monday night between Chennai and Karaikal. Heavy rainfall is expected in most parts of Tamil Nadu, especially the northern coast. The depression was said to be situated 450kms south-east of Chennai, and winds blowing at a speed of 45-60kms/hr. Chennai has received 43cm rainfall in the last couple of days.
Met department predicted deep depression in Puducherry between12:30pm and 2:30pm and slammed all cyclone warning reports.
Schools and colleges are shut in Chennai, Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur. Fishermen have been asked not to go out to the sea.
Due to the rains, a wall collapsed at Ekattur off Old Mahabalipuram Road in near Chennai, claiming two lives, reported TOI.
The rains on Monday alone are expected to wipe out the entire rain deficit this year. While the rains are good news for the farmers who now expect a bumper harvest, this could spoil the festive Deepavali spirit in the state.