Chennai rain intensified overnight, inundating several parts of the city and prompting authorities to deploy more than 15,000 civic workers as the Regional Meteorological Centre forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall in Chennai and neighbouring districts on Sunday. Ennore Port recorded 222.5mm of rain in the 24 hours ending at 5.30am, while several other monitoring stations reported more than 100mm.
North Chennai was among the worst-affected areas, with Ennore, Tiruvottiyur and Manali reporting significant inundation. Broadway, Prakasam Salai, Mannadi and Parry’s Corner also received very heavy rain, with some locations recording around 30cm. Additional chief secretary and commissioner B Chandra Mohan said Kathivakkam, Tiruvottiyur, Parry’s Corner, Sathanagadu, Meenambakkam and Basin Bridge had each received around 30cm of rain.
The Greater Chennai Corporation said the rainfall in some parts of the city had exceeded expectations. Commissioner G S Sameeran said more than 15,000 sanitation and other civic workers had been deployed through the night to manage the situation, including emergency response and flood-related operations.
Rainfall data for the 24-hour period showed that Nungambakkam recorded 157.8mm and Meenambakkam 146.7mm. YMCA Nandanam received 148.5mm, Anna University recorded 111mm and Puzhal received 77mm. Officials warned that central and southern parts of Chennai could also experience heavy showers.
The Tamil Nadu State Disaster Response Force deployed 100 personnel as a precautionary measure. National Disaster Response Force and State Disaster Response Force teams were also being sent to Chennai to assist with emergency operations if flooding worsened. Automatic rain gauges across the city were transmitting readings every 15 minutes to help officials track rainfall intensity and respond to changing conditions.
The RMC attributed the rain to a cyclonic circulation over northern Tamil Nadu and adjoining southern coastal Andhra Pradesh. Satellite imagery showed significant convective cloud development over north coastal Tamil Nadu and adjoining sea areas. Weather blogger Pradeep John described the spell as Chennai’s heaviest rainfall since Cyclone Michaung in December 2023, which brought around 400mm to 450mm of rain in a day. He also noted that the current spell followed nearly 25 dry days and coincided with the onset of the Northeast Monsoon.
Heavy rain was forecast in 17 Tamil Nadu districts on Sunday, including Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram, Chengalpattu, the Nilgiris, Coimbatore, Dharmapuri, Krishnagiri, Salem, Villupuram, Kallakurichi, Cuddalore, Ariyalur, Tiruchirappalli, Perambalur, Tiruvannamalai and Erode. The RMC also forecast heavy rain in Chennai and several other districts on Monday, with thunderstorms and lightning likely in parts of Tiruchirappalli, the Nilgiris, Coimbatore and Tirunelveli. Officials were continuing to monitor rainfall and prepare emergency operations in areas at risk of flooding.
