Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin convened a high-level meeting on Monday to assess the situation following heavy rain forecasts by the Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC), Chennai, for the next four days. He has instructed officials to declare a holiday for schools and colleges in Chennai, Tiruvallur, Kanchipuram, and Chengalpattu districts on October 15, as a precaution.
Stalin also urged IT companies in these districts to allow employees to work from home from October 15 to 18 to minimize disruption.
According to the RMC, the heavy rainfall is expected due to a low-pressure system over the southeast Bay of Bengal, which may intensify and move towards north Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and south Andhra Pradesh coasts in the next two days. This could result in increased rainfall activity in the region.
The Chief Minister emphasized the importance of proactive disaster preparedness, directing that the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the Tamil Nadu Disaster Response Force be deployed in vulnerable areas. “Rescue boats should be stationed in flood-prone zones today,” Stalin said, urging district monitoring officers to begin immediate relief and rehabilitation efforts in coordination with local administrations.
He also called for increased metro and MRTS train services to assist the public during the adverse weather.
Precautions in place by civic authorities
Ensuring essential supplies, Stalin stressed the need to control the prices of food and other commodities and called for adequate stocking of food and medicines in old-age homes and shelters.
The Greater Chennai Corporation informed the Chief Minister that 990 pumps, 57 tractors with pump sets, and 36 mechanized boats are ready for deployment in case of flooding. Additionally, 46 metric tons of bleaching powder and phenyl are prepared for sanitation purposes and 169 fully equipped relief centers are on standby.
Senior state officials, including Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, participated in the review meeting, assuring that the districts were well-prepared to handle any inundation.