Chennai, the coastal city of India, is currently underwrite alert due to cyclone Ditwah. This city, located along parts of Northern Tamil Nadu, is now experiencing deep depression. Warnings are currently in effect for Chennai, Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram and Chengalpattu districts.
The Indian Meteorological Department is also forecasting extreme heavy rainfall in the upcoming hours. Cyclone Ditwah is being held responsible for the landfall that occurred in Sri Lanka.
Tamil Nadu. The system has weakened over time and seems to be alarmingly close to the shore at an approximate 35 km range from the northern Tamil Nadu coastline of Puducherry. Various parts of northern and Central Chennai have experienced torrential rainfall in the 24 hours preceding the alert. The localities had experienced around 12 to 17 cm of rainfall. Meteorologists had revealed that the depression is expected to last for another day, and there is a severe chance of flooding, heavy rain, accompanied by gusty winds.
Impact on localities surrounding Chennai
- Definitely, flood and waterlogging in the low-lying zones are expected to be reported. Areas such as Vyasarpadi, Perambur, Ashok Nagar, Velachery, T Nagar, and Saidapet are going to experience a disruption from the normal way of living, where the water is going to be deep in the next couple of hours.
- In Northern Tamil Nadu, more than 1600 huts are damaged. Crops across 2.11 lakh acres are destroyed, and 582 cattle are lost. The state government has recently announced to provide a compensation of 20000 rupees per hectare to all the affected farmers in the area.
- Also, this rain-related incident has taken away the lives of 4 people so far.
- Around 18 domestic flights at the Chennai airport were cancelled, and there has been a significant impact on the public transport facility of the city. Many people are even unable to commute due to such waterlogging issues on the roads.
- Educational institutions in the Chennai, Tiruvallur and Kancheepuram districts are ordered to remain shut.
Even though the storm may subside, there is a high chance that the vulnerability will continue! Even if the depression is going to weaken over time, there is a probability of heavy rain and gusty winds followed by other coastal hazards. Waterlogging issues may still be there!
The Greater Chennai police have launched various kinds of disaster response plans, deploying the rescue teams in multiple locations and setting up quite a few control rooms. Arranging patrols and ambulances to enforce the safety directive is yet another important safety measure taken. Residents are asked to avoid unnecessary travel to flood-prone zones alongside other advisories.
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What all can you do to safeguard yourself from the cyclone?
Avoid unnecessary travel, and make sure that you keep safe while monitoring the local news and other safety alerts being circulated from the government. Keep the local authorities’ contact numbers handy and make sure that you are securing all sorts of loose materials, such as the billboards, so that they do not get carried away by strong winds. Lastly, ensure that you are keeping all your belongings on the ground level, a little away from the ground level, to avoid waterlogging issues.
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