Tue Nov 26 11:00:41 UTC 2024: ## Heavy Rains Lash Tamil Nadu as Cyclone Threatens

**Chennai, November 26** – Tamil Nadu is bracing for intense rainfall over the next five days as a deep depression brewing over the Bay of Bengal intensifies and moves towards the Sri Lanka-Tamil Nadu coast. The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC), Chennai, has issued a red alert for extremely heavy rainfall in several districts.

Cuddalore and Mayiladuthurai districts, along with Karaikal, are expected to bear the brunt of the downpour, with predictions of heavy to very heavy rainfall, and extremely heavy rainfall in some areas. Several other districts, including Ariyalur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Thanjavur, Pudukkottai, Villuppuram, Puducherry, Sivaganga, Chennai, Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur, Ranipet, and Tiruvannamalai, are also forecast to receive very heavy rainfall. Isolated heavy rain is anticipated in Ramanathapuram, Tiruchirappalli, Perambalur, Kallakurichi, and Chengalpattu districts.

Schools in several districts, including Ramanathapuram, Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli, Tenkasi, and Tiruvarur, were closed earlier this week due to heavy rainfall.

Chennai and its suburbs are expected to see moderate rainfall on Tuesday, accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning. While the city has received 55 cm of rainfall since October 1, it still represents a 9% deficit. Statewide rainfall is also slightly below average at 33 cm (a 1% deficit). The IMD is closely monitoring the situation and will issue further updates as the deep depression develops.

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