Rains are likely to occur over Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Karaikal for the next five days due to the influence of a cyclonic circulation.
Published Dec 15, 2023 | 6:20 PM ⚊ Updated Dec 15, 2023 | 7:00 PM
Rain clouds over south Tamil Nadu and Kerala as of 15 December. (IMD)
Several parts of Tamil Nadu, including Chennai, received the first spell of rain post Cyclone Michaung on Friday, 15 December. Sharp showers were experienced in the southern districts too.
Rains are likely to occur over Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal for the next five days due to the influence of cyclonic circulation over the southeast Bay of Bengal and adjoining equatorial Indian Ocean in the lower tropospheric levels, the Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) in Chennai said.
Under its influence light to moderate rainfall is likely at many places over south Tamil Nadu and a few places over north Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Karaikal during the next three days from 15 December, the RMC stated.
Isolated heavy to very heavy rain is likely over south Tamil Nadu and delta districts on 16 and 17 December and isolated heavy rain is also likely along the south coastal and adjoining delta areas on 15 and 18 December, it added.
Heavy rain is likely to occur at one or two places over Kanyakumari, Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi, Ramanathapuram, Pudukottai, and Thanjavur districts on 18 and 19 December.
The IMD also predicted light to moderate rainfall at a few places very likely over Kerala on 15, 18, and 19 December.
Isolated heavy rainfall likely over Kerala on 16, and 17 December. Isolated very heavy rainfall is also very likely over south Kerala on 17 December.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, on 9 December, announced ₹6,000 cyclone relief to people affected by Cyclone Michaung.
The assistance to people, whose livelihoods were affected by the cyclone, would be paid in cash by the government at the ration shops, the government said in an official release. Also, increased payout under other categories including compensation for flood-hit crops.
The Chief Minister’s announcement followed a high-level meeting chaired by him at the Secretariat that reviewed damage due to floods and the relief to be provided to the affected people.
The cyclone-triggered heavy rainfall had led to inundation in localities including Velachery and Tambaram. People were seen leaving their homes in the areas surrounded by water to safer zones, carrying their children and wading through stagnant water.
Chennai, Kancheepuram, Chengalpattu and Tiruvallur in northern Tamil Nadu were hit by the cyclone and heavy inundation.
Under the influence of the severe cyclonic storm Michaung, Chennai, Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram and Chengalpattu districts received a total of 109.41 cm of rainfall (3 and 4 December). Poonamallee (in Tiruvallur district, a Chennai suburb) received 32 cm and Perungudi (Chennai) received 29 cm.
(With PTI inputs)
