Overnight showers drenched Chennai and its surrounding areas, with the India Meteorological Department stating that the low-pressure system is likely to intensify soon.
Authorities confirmed that there has been no water accumulation in subways due to proactive maintenance, but there were reports of water logging causing inconvenience to commuters.
Intermittent rains have been lashing Chennai and its suburbs since Monday night, including parts of Tiruvallur district.
According to the IMD, the low-pressure system over the southeast Bay of Bengal remained stationary at 11:30 PM IST on October 14, 2024, and is expected to move west-northwestward, turning into a well-marked low-pressure area over the central parts of the south Bay of Bengal by the morning of October 15. It is then predicted to intensify into a depression and move towards the north Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and south Andhra Pradesh coasts in the next two days.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin conducted a meeting on Monday to assess the preparedness and measures taken by authorities to handle the anticipated heavy rainfall. He instructed the deployment of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and Tamil Nadu Disaster Response Force in vulnerable areas.
Officials from the Greater Chennai Corporation reported that they have positioned 990 pumps, 57 tractors with pump sets, and 36 mechanised boats for emergency use. Additionally, 46 metric tonnes of bleaching powder and phenyl are available for sanitation purposes, and around 169 well-equipped relief centers will be operational as needed.