Chennai: Tamil Nadu is on high alert as the northeast monsoon intensifies, bringing extremely heavy rainfall to coastal areas and raising the specter of a developing cyclone. A low-pressure area over the Bay of Bengal, approximately 400 km from the Chennai coast, is currently under close observation by the regional weather office for potential intensification into a deep depression or a full-fledged cyclone.
​In response to the escalating weather threat, a Red Alert—indicating the possibility of over 20 cm of rain in 24 hours—has been issued for at least eight districts, including Villupuram, Cuddalore, and Nagapattinam. The state capital, Chennai, while currently under an ‘Orange Alert,’ is bracing for very heavy downpours.
​Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has convened meetings to review the state’s preparedness, ensuring that rescue and relief plans are fully activated. Shelters are being readied across the coastal belt to manage any large-scale displacement. As a precautionary measure, schools and colleges remain shut in several districts, and neighboring Puducherry has also declared a holiday.
​Officials confirmed that water is being released from the Chembarambakkam reservoir in Kanchipuram district to mitigate the risk of urban flooding in Chennai, a critical step following past flood events.
​The heavy rains have already begun to take a toll. Reports from Tirunelveli district indicate that thousands of acres of ripe paddy crops are affected, causing distress among farmers. Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a stern warning to fishermen, advising them to avoid sailing into the Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal, and South Andaman Sea from October 23 to 26 due to anticipated squally winds reaching up to 65 kmph. District monitoring officers have been deployed to coordinate urgent relief work as the state hunkers down for the approaching system.
