Tamil Nadu Flood Alert: Heavy Rain Batters Chennai, Nagapattinam Amid IMD Warning

However, visuals from Thoothukudi showed vegetable and fruit market operating despite heavy showers in the area. IMD has forecast 'light to moderate' rain in the city till October 22.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted rains to continue across the entire coastal area in Tamil Nadu from tomorrow.

The MeT department said that heavy rain is likely to occur at isolated places over Nilgiris, Coimbatore, Tiruppur, Erode, Dindigul, Theni, Madurai, Virudhunagar, Ramanathapuram, Sivaganga, Pudukkottai, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Mayiladuthurai, Cuddalore, Villuppuram and Chengalpattu districts & Puducherry and Karaikal area.

IMD has issued a yellow alert for Chennai forecasting "partly cloudy sky with the possibility of moderate rain or thunderstorm accompanied by lightning."

Due to heavy rain Train services on the Nilgiri Mountain Railway (NMR) were also cancelled on Sunday following multiple landslides in the region. According to Southern Railway, "earth slips" occurred at several locations along the route, with boulders, mud, and fallen trees blocking the track between Kallar and Coonoor, disrupting train movement.

As a result, the train services were cancelled for October 19."Train No. 56136 Mettupalayam - Udagamandalam. Train No. 56137 Udagamandalam - Mettupalayam. Train No. 06171 Mettupalayam - Udagamandalam Special Train," a statement issued by Salem Division of Southern Railway read.

Earlier, India Meteorological Department (IMD) announced that a low-pressure area is likely to form over the southeast Bay of Bengal and may move west-northwestward and gradually intensify. The system is expected to strengthen further into a deep depression, authorities said.

Official handle of the Regional Meteorological Centre Chennai said in a post on X that light to Moderate rain with Thunderstorm and lightning is likely at isolated places over Nilgiris, Coimbatore, Madurai, Erode, Cuddalore, Villupuram, Chengalpattu, Chennai, Thiruvallur, Mayiladuthurai, Nagapattinam, Tiruvarur, Thanjavur, Pudukottai, Ramanathapuram, Puducherry, Karaikal.

Moderate rain with thunderstorm and lightning is likely at isolated places over Tirunelveli, Virudhunagar, Thoothukkudi, Kanyakumari and Tenkasi districts of Tamil Nadu, it added. Earlier, Heavy rain accompanied by thunder and lightning triggered waterlogging in parts of Thoothukudi in Tamil Nadu. The District Administration had declared a holiday for schools in the district due to heavy rainfall.

Meanwhile, Assistant Director of the Department of Fisheries and Fishermen Welfare, Cuddalore District, said that in view of this, all types of mechanised country boats, catamarans, and motorised fishing vessels from Cuddalore district are advised not to venture into the sea until further notice.

Fishermen from the Cuddalore district who are currently engaged in fishing in the deep sea are instructed to return to the shore immediately, the official warned.All fishermen are kindly requested to strictly follow this advisory and extend their full cooperation to the government, he added.

- ANI