Heavy Rainfall Hits Chennai as Depression Weakens Over Bay of Bengal
On October 17, a weather depression over the West Central and SouthWest Bay of Bengal moved at 14 km per hour, crossing the north of Tamil Nadu and South Andhra Pradesh coasts between Pondicherry and Nellore, near Chennai. By 4:30 a.m., it weakened into a low-pressure area over South coastal Andhra Pradesh and North coastal Tamil Nadu. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) predicts further weakening in the next 12 hours.
Chennai experienced extremely heavy rainfall, with Kathivakkam and Manali recording 23 cm and 21 cm respectively. Cholavaram saw 30 cm, Red Hills 28 cm, and Avadi 25 cm of rain. On October 16, the depression was near the South Andhra Pradesh-North Tamil Nadu coast, about 80 km east-northeast of Chennai.
Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, along with party leaders, distributed relief materials to sanitation workers. He assured the public that no rainwater was stagnating in Chennai and thanked everyone for their cooperation. Despite the heavy rain, the government is prepared for any further rainfall.
The rain caused knee-deep water in residential areas, traffic congestion, and affected public transport in Chennai and other parts of Tamil Nadu.
Doubts Revealed
Depression -: In weather terms, a depression is a low-pressure area that can cause heavy rain and strong winds. It is not as strong as a cyclone but can still bring a lot of rain.
Bay of Bengal -: The Bay of Bengal is a large body of water to the east of India. It is part of the Indian Ocean and often experiences weather systems like cyclones and depressions.
Low-pressure area -: A low-pressure area is a region where the atmospheric pressure is lower than the surrounding areas. It can lead to cloud formation and rain.
Tamil Nadu -: Tamil Nadu is a state in the southern part of India. Chennai, the capital city of Tamil Nadu, is known for its cultural heritage and is a major economic center.
Andhra Pradesh -: Andhra Pradesh is another state in southern India, located to the north of Tamil Nadu. It has a long coastline along the Bay of Bengal.
Udhayanidhi Stalin -: Udhayanidhi Stalin is a politician in Tamil Nadu and the son of the current Chief Minister, M.K. Stalin. He is involved in state governance and public welfare activities.
Indian Meteorological Department -: The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) is a government agency responsible for weather forecasting and monitoring in India. They provide information about weather conditions like rain, storms, and temperature.
