Heavy rains in Chennai: Water discharge from Sembarambakkam and Puzhal reservoirs has increased

Heavy rains in Chennai: Water discharge from Sembarambakkam and Puzhal reservoirs has increased

The discharge from Cembarambakkam and Puzhal reservoirs has increased following heavy rains that started on Saturday, November 6 and continued till Sunday in Chennai. As the water level in the lakes continued to rise, water was gradually released from the Puhal, Boondi and Puhal dams. People living in the lower reaches of the river and in the low-lying areas around the lakes have been warned and asked to evacuate.

The Cembarambakkam reservoirs were opened at 1.30 pm and initially opened at 500 cubic feet per second, but later increased to 2000 cubic feet. The Puzhal Reservoir was also opened and the first phase was opened with 500 cubic feet of water, increasing to 2,000 cubic feet. Puzhal Lake, one of the main sources of drinking water in Chennai, has a water capacity of 19.62 feet as of 2 pm on Sunday. At 3 pm, the discharge increased to 2,000 cubic feet per second as the water level continued to rise due to the monsoon. According to the Tamil Nadu State Disaster Management Authority (TNSDMA), surplus water has been released from the Poondi Reservoir and gradually released at a rate of 3,376 cubic feet per second.

This is the maximum amount of one day rainfall in Chennai since December 2015. In 2015, Chennai was hit by a catastrophic flood due to heavy rains and late release of excess water in the Adyar River from the Cembarambakkam Reservoir. Therefore, efforts are being made to ensure that the water is gradually opened this time and appropriate precautions and precautionary measures are being taken.

People living in low-lying areas under the Adyar River have been asked to evacuate their homes and move to safer places. Chennai Corporation has released the list of relief centers operating for those in need.The list can be accessed here.

After a night of heavy rain, Chennai received 20 cm of rain in about 12 hours from Saturday night. According to IMD data, Chennai and its suburbs received 10 to 23 cm of rain. A maximum of 23 cm of rain was recorded at Kamarajar point near the Tamil Nadu General Secretariat (DGP's office at Marina Beach) and 10 cm at Ennore in North Chennai.

Some suburbs, including parts of nearby Tiruvallur district, received 3 cm (Poondi and RKpet) and 9 cm (Cholavaram) of rain. IMD has issued a 'red' warning of heavy rains in Tamil Nadu and neighboring Pondicherry on Sunday.

Many parts of Saidapet, Velachery, Adambakkam, Madipakkam and West Mambalam were submerged by two to three feet of water as most parts of the city and suburbs were flooded. Many tunnels were filled with rainwater up to several feet.

Cuddalore, Villupuram, Chennai, Kanchipuram, Chengalpattu, Tiruvallur districts and Pondicherry will receive isolated heavy rains, IMD forecast. Vellore, Ranipettai, Tirupati, Nagapattinam, Mayiladuthurai, Kallakurichi, Thiruvannamalai, Salem, coastal Andhra Pradesh and Rayalaseema districts of Tamil Nadu are likely to receive heavy to very heavy rains in one or two places. In Tamil Nadu, heavy rains are likely in Thanjavur, Thiruvarur, Ariyalur, Perambalur, Tiruchirappalli, Pudukottai and Ramanathapuram districts, the IMD said.