Flood Alert Issued in Tamilnadu's Cuddalore District!

Pennar River

The Cuddalore district administration in Tamil Nadu has issued a flood warning for those along the banks of River Pennar. With many reservoirs filling up after heavy rain due to the North East monsoon, 500 cusecs of water is being released from the Sathanur Dam.

"These waters and the rain we may receive could lead to floods. It is a caution for those on the banks not to be there because the currents could be dangerous," said Gagandeep Singh Bedi, Revenue Secretary who oversees relief and rescue operations.

"We are also widening the mouth of the river at the sea so that there would be a smooth flow without inundating the town," the senior official added.

Earlier this month, Cuddalore bore the brunt of a deep depression as it made its landfall in the district. At least 43 people died due to rain related incidents in the district.

[thanks to NDTV]

176 Dead in Tamilnadu, More Rain Expected!

Rain at TN

The number of deaths in rain-related incidents in Tamil Nadu has gone up to 176. It has been raining in the state for the last two weeks and more rain has been forecast in the next 24 to 48 hours.

Seven more deaths were reported from across the state since yesterday, while there was a let up in rainfall in most areas of the state since last evening, including Chennai.

Five people died yesterday while two deaths were reported from the state today.

The meteorological department said rain or thundershowers would occur at a few places over Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, coastal Karnataka, Kerala and Lakshadweep in the next 24-48 hours.

For Chennai and its neighbourhood, skies would be cloudy and there may be rain or thundershowers in some areas, it said.

It has been raining in Tamil Nadu for two weeks now.

Papanasam in Tiruneveli district received heavy rainfall of 10 cm, while Rameswaram, Cheranmahadevi and Coonoor received least rainfall of one cm each, the Met office said.

Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa condoled the death of seven persons and announced a compensation of Rs.four lakh each to their next of kin from the disaster relief fund.

The chief minister had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on November 23, pegging the flood damage at Rs. 8,481 crore, and urged him to immediately release Rs.2,000 crore to sustain relief work.

[thanks to NDTV]