Tamil Nadu: Depression In Bay Of Bengal Causes Heavy Rain And Flooding Across State

After flooding in Chennai and surrounding districts in the beginning of November due to the northeast monsoon, Tamil Nadu was again left battered by heavy rains from 11-13 November.

This time it was due to a depression formed in the Bay of Bengal.

Low lying areas across the state were inundated. Waterlogging was seen in many cities. Sirkazhi in Mayiladuthurai district received a record 44 cm of rainfall in a day, its highest rainfall in more than 100 years.  

According to the state government, about 16,800 people have been evacuated to safer areas and 45,800 hectares of paddy crop has been submerged.

Social media has been witness to a battle between the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and the opposition. While the DMK claimed that it has done a better job this year by sharing photos of streets that were flooded in 2021 and not flooded in 2022, the opposition shared photos countering the DMK claims.

Opposition leaders say that the problem of lack of pumps, poor desilting work of storm-water drains, encroachment etc, remain.

Heavy rains have also caused dam authorities across the state to release excess water. While Vaigam Dam authorities in Theni district released 3,780 cusecs of water into the river, the Bhavanisagar dam in Erode district, saw a release of nearly 7,000 cusecs of water.

People living downstream have been asked to stay away from the river banks as a precautionary measure.

Chief Minister M K Stalin visited north Chennai and is scheduled to go to the delta region to inspect and take stock of relief measures.