Wed Oct 16 09:05:40 UTC 2024: ## Heavy Rains Lash Southern India, Causing Widespread Flooding and Disruptions

**Chennai, Bengaluru, and Tirupati** – Heavy rains, triggered by a depression in the Bay of Bengal, have battered southern India, causing widespread flooding and disruptions in transportation and daily life.

**Chennai:** The city experienced “extremely heavy rainfall” on Tuesday, resulting in widespread waterlogging. Corporation workers deployed boats to rescue people from flooded areas. However, Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin claims floodwater has receded in areas under the Greater Chennai Corporation. The state government has announced free food at Amma Canteens on Wednesday and Thursday to support affected residents.

**Bengaluru:** The city also experienced heavy rainfall, with some areas witnessing severe flooding. The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) deployed tractors to assist residents in movement and evacuation. Rain disrupted metro services for several hours, causing traffic snarls. The city is expected to experience moderate to heavy rainfall for the next three days.

**Tirupati:** Intense rainfall has hit Tirupati and SPSR Nellore districts in Andhra Pradesh, with the coastal mandal of Sullurpeta recording a whopping 220.4 mm of rainfall on Wednesday. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has directed officials to be on high alert for flash floods in some parts of the state.

**South Western Railway:** Due to waterlogging, the South Western Railway cancelled several train services, including the Mysuru-KSR Bengaluru Malgudi Express, KSR Bengaluru-Mysuru Malgudi Express, and Mysuru-Dr. MGR Chennai Central Kaveri Express.

**India-New Zealand Test Match:** The first test match between India and New Zealand in Bengaluru has been delayed due to heavy rain, with the toss unable to take place. Showers are predicted throughout the day.

**Other Affected Areas:** Heavy rainfall has also been reported in several other parts of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, including Vellore, Tiruvannamalai, Ranipet, Tirupattur, and Puducherry. Several districts have declared school closures due to heavy rainfall.

**Government Response:** Governments in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka have announced various measures to address the situation, including setting up relief centers, providing free food, and deploying disaster management teams.

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