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Chennai Help

Wednesday, November 30, 2005

Relief Web has a few reports on the flood situation in Tamil Nadu.

Tuesday, November 29, 2005

Another depression on its way. Tonight is marked with more rains. This is what the global weather man says (the important thing is the satellite image on the lower half of the linked page. There is a 'weather in motion' link as well which shows the red circle moving in an alarming manner towards the Chennai coastline).

Some pictures of flooded Tamil Nadu.

A Chennai Monsoon 2005 photo collection.

Saturday, November 26, 2005

Buses & Lives - washed away in Tamil Nadu

This has been the story of the last 24 hours. Two buses, carrying over 200 passengers, were washed away by flash floods in Ramanathapuram and Thanjavur districts. The death toll ranges between 74 to well over 80, depending upon the news report that one follows. Perhaps there are more lives that have ceased to be than these figures show.

Various news agencies all over the world, from New Zealand to Canada to Qatar to Switzerland to Ireland to China ran this news.

Wednesday, November 23, 2005

It is still a rainy story

The reports of the continuing Chennai rainfall are remarkably uniform in their content. We are not talking about the recent reports but also the ones that reported the depressions of a few weeks ago. The story still remains that there is an unusually strong monsoon in action in the Coromandel coast and this monsoon also stirs the Bay of Bengal once every few weeks and new depressions rush along to make news.

The highlights of the latest depression - the one forming a low pressure in the Gulf of Mannar - are:

Frequent spells of heavy rain lash Chennai as well as surrounding areas in
Tamil Nadu and neighbouring states.

The reservoirs are overflowing - Chennai's main source of water supply, the Chembarambakkam reservoir is full and water is being released at the rate of 1500 cusecs. Likewise 96,000 cusecs have been released from the Amaravathy dam causing a flood alert to be issued in Karur and Tiruchirapalli districts.

Schools and colleges in most districts of Tamil Nadu are closed today.

The much anticipated Chennai one-day cricket match between India and South Africa (Nov. 22) was a complete washout. Three separate public interest litigations have been filed in the Madras HighCourt against the TNCA and BCCI demanding a refund of the ticket amount.
This is the third time in three years that a cricket match in Chennai has been abandoned due to rainfall. Needless to say, all three matches were scheduled around the same time of the year. The best time to host a cricket match in Chennai is the January - March period. TNCA, hear hear.

An overview of what the weather bureau predicts for the next 48 hours:

Rain or thundershowers are likely to occur at most places over Tamilnadu and Pondicherry, at many places over South Coastal Andhrapradesh, Rayalaseema, South Interior Karnataka, Kerala and Lakshadweep and at a few places over Coastal Karnataka. Isolated rain or thundershowers are likely to occur over North Coastal Andhrapradesh and North Interior Karnataka. Mainly dry weather will prevail over Telangana.

Heavy rain is likely to occur at a few places with isolated very heavy rain over Tamilnadu and Pondicherry during the next 48 hours. Isolated heavy rain is also likely to occur over South Interior Karnataka, Kerala, Lakshadweep and Nellore and Chittur districts of Andhrapradesh during the same period.

Forecast for Chennai city: Generally cloudy with few spells of rain, heavy at times.


Sunday, November 06, 2005

The rains have been busy again. The frequent bursts of heavy rain on Friday and Saturday gave way to the incessant pitter-patter that continued all through Sunday. Chennai is under the influence of yet another low pressure, this time over the South West Bay. Rains are expected to continue through Monday and Tuesday. Schools and Colleges will be closed on Monday.

Chennai Metrowater has a 24-hour complaint cell where residents can report problems with water quality. The numbers are 28415312 / 28418436.

The continuing rains, a clear indication that the monsoon season is still young, raise worries about water borne diseases.

A quick roundup of rain news:

Incessant rain compounds Chennai's problems.

Showers will continue say the weather folks.

At least six killed and many injured in a stampede at a relief camp on Sunday.

The stinking mess in Adambakkam due to backflow of sewage.

Seven people die and crops submerge due to heavy rains and flash floods in Nagapattinam.

Thursday, November 03, 2005

No danger of disease outbreak says Chennai Corporation.

More rains predicted in Tamil Nadu today and tomorrow.

And the real cool umbrellas that seem to be attracting a lot of attention.