Heavy rains batter Chennai, rail & road links cut off, schools shut

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Incessant rain in Chennai and its adjoining areas have led to flash floods disrupting normal life and the National Disaster Response Force was called in on Sunday to assist in rescue work.</p>
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The authorities have shut down schools in four districts for the next two days.</p>
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With the lakes around Chennai overflowing, water is being released from the Chembarambakkam lake. The embankment of the lake has a maximum height of 85.4 feet while the water level has risen to the danger mark of 82.35 feet.</p>
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Officials said this regular discharge of water will not lead to flooding but if there is excess rain, areas around Muduchur may get inundated.</p>
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A flood alert has been issued in Kancheepuram and Chengalpattu districts on the banks of River Adyar. Schools have been ordered to stay shut in Thiruvallur, Chengalpattu and Kanchipuram districts.</p>
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Chennai was battered by rain through the night, recording 21 cm of rainfall till 8.30 am this morning. Several low-lying areas of the city have been flooded.</p>
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The weather department has predicted that isolated places in north coastal Tamil Nadu will receive heavy to very heavy to extremely heavy rainfall throughout Sunday due to the influence of a cyclonic circulation in Bay of Bengal.</p>
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While the rain is likely to reduce after tonight, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned of more rainfall on Tuesday and Wednesday.</p>
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Chief Minister M K Stalin has visited 14 waterlogged areas in Chennai, including Egmore, Padi bridge, Padi Bridge and Jawahar Nagar.</p>
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Following a request from the state government, the National Disaster Response Force has deployed four teams to assist in rescue operations.</p>
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Road and rail services have ground to a halt because of the flooded areas  cutting off the region from the rest of the country.</p>