Chennai Braces for Fury as Cyclone Ditwah's Remnants Bring Heavy Rains and Flooding
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Chennai is on high alert as Cyclone Ditwah's remnants continue to wreak havoc on the city, prompting the cancellation of at least 18 domestic flights at the Chennai airport on Tuesday. According to the airport authorities, passengers are advised to check with their airlines for updates. Schools and colleges in Chennai have been shut down, and the Greater Chennai Corporation has deployed 107 boats to rescue civilians in low-lying areas and provide shelter at relief centers. The city has been under an orange alert throughout the day, with several areas recording extremely heavy rainfall. Ennore recorded 26 cm, Parrys 25 cm, and Ice House 22 cm of rainfall, while Manali New Town and Ponneri received 21 cm each. Many arterial roads and subways have been affected, causing traffic chaos. Officials have been scrambling to inspect localities, wading through ankle-deep water. A total of 1,496 motor pumps, including 170 100Hp motor pumps and 550 tractor-mounted pumps, are on standby to discharge rainwater from rainwater harvesting areas in 15 zones under the Greater Chennai Corporation. The Greater Chennai police reported that 48 trees had fallen across the city on December 1, which were promptly removed. The authorities also rescued 10 people living in low-lying areas and brought them to civic body shelters. According to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), the Depression (Remnant of Cyclonic Storm Ditwah) over the southwest Bay of Bengal, north Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and South Andhra Pradesh coasts has moved slowly south at a speed of 3 kmph, with its center located 40 km east of Chennai, 120 km northeast of Puducherry, 140 km northeast of Cuddalore, and 190 km south of Andhra Pradesh's Nellore.
