Flights resume at Chennai airport as red alert on rains is withdrawn

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The “red alert” issued for Chennai and seven other Tamil Nadu districts was withdrawn on Thursday evening as the depression, which caused the torrential rain and floods in the region, weakened as it crossed between Chennai and Puducherry.</p>
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India Meteorological Department announced that the rainfall was now likely to be concentrated over the southern Andhra Pradesh coast give respite to the Tamil Nadu coastal areas.</p>
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Chennai airport which had been shut in the afternoon due to inclement weather has now resumed normal operations.</p>
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Passengers have been asked to contact the concerned airlines for flight schedules, the airport tweeted.</p>
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Incessant rain has led to water logging in several parts of Chennai disrupting normal life. The flow of traffic in the city was blocked on Thursday due to subways getting flooded.</p>
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At least 14 people have died in rain-related incidents across the state.</p>
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Schools and colleges have been closed in Chennai and other coastal districts for the last four days, and several areas in the capital city remain waterlogged for the fifth day in a row.</p>
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The authorities have asked people to stock up food and fresh water. They have been asked to stay at home and venture out only if there is an emergency.</p>
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Heavy showers have been relentlessly battering the northern coastal districts of Tamil Nadu including Chennai and nearby Chengelpet, Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram and Villupuram.</p>
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Tamil Nadu has now recorded 38 cm of rainfall between October 1 and November 10 which is 52 per cent above normal. Chennai received 61 cm of rain in the same period, against a historical average of 41 cm.</p>
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Over half of main reservoirs and lakes in the state are at least 75 per cent full already, raising fears of a repeat of 2015, when a sudden excess discharge from Chennai's Chembarambakkam reservoir triggered floods in the city.</p>
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The weather department had earlier said the downpour, which had intensified on Wednesday night, would continue for two days as a depression had formed over the Bay of Bengal which was likely to cross the north Tamil Nadu and south Andhra Pradesh coast by the evening of November 11.</p>
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Greater Chennai Corporation Commissioner Gagandeep Singh Bedi said, "We're expecting more than 250 mm of rain in and around Chennai over the next two days.</p>