On Tuesday, Chennai and other parts of Tamil Nadu experienced intermittent, widespread rainfall, leaving neighborhoods and roads knee-deep in water, leading to traffic congestion and also affecting public transport.

While bus services were affected in several areas, Southern Railway announced cancellation of four express trains, including the Chennai Central-Mysuru Kaveri Express, due to waterlogging. Several domestic flights were canceled as not enough passengers turned up to avail the services.

According to the India Meteorological Department bulletin, the city recorded 125 mm rainfall (measured at Nungambakkam station) on Tuesday even as the weather department predicted more rainfall in the state over the next two days.

The IMD bulletin said that “heavy to very heavy rain and extremely heavy rain at one or two places are likely to occur over Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram, Chengalpattu and Chennai districts” on October 16.

ALSO READ – “Developed India will be free from terrorism, drugs by 2047”: Amit Shah

Experts have attributed the heavy rains to two weather systems: a distinct low-pressure area over the southern Bay of Bengal and a low-pressure area over the western Central Arabian Sea off the coast of Oman.

“It (the low pressure) is likely to move west-northwest during the next 24 hours and strengthen into a low pressure area over southwest Bay of Bengal,” the Regional Meteorological Center (RMC) in Chennai said.

As the cyclonic circulation continues over the Bay of Bengal off the coast of Andhra Pradesh, a trough of the low pressure area is “likely to move further west-northwest towards north Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and adjoining south coastal Andhra Pradesh in the following 24 hours.” “. said the RMC.

ALSO READ: Baba Siddique's shooters used Instagram and Snapchat to communicate, police say

The southwest monsoon has withdrawn from the entire country and the northeast monsoon has begun, said RMC director S. Balachandran. The northeast monsoon brings an average of 450 mm of rain to Tamil Nadu, accounting for 48% of the annual rainfall, and an average of 870 mm to Chennai, accounting for 63% of the capital's annual rainfall.

Prime Minister MK Stalin, together with state ministers, inspected the work on draining rainwater in flood-prone areas and went to a tea shop with citizens, bought them tea and biscuits and also drank tea with them.

Despite the heavy rains, Stalin praised the services of health and civil workers and civil servants and said he would stand side by side with frontline workers.

ALSO READ – Canada's leadership says it is working with Five Eyes partners on Nijjar investigation

Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin inspected several places including Narayanapuram Lake near Velachery and authorities said excess rain from lake water was draining into canals due to advanced desilting work.

In an advisory, the government asked private entities to facilitate work from home.

Authorities said fallen trees were immediately removed and waterlogging was being addressed by pumping water into storm drains.

High-performance engines are used on tractors to eliminate waterlogging. Boats were also deployed in vulnerable areas. Greater Chennai Corporation announced a helpline number 1913.

A public holiday was declared for schools and colleges on October 15 and the government urged people to check the TN Alert app for weather updates.