Due to severe rains and heavy crosswinds in Chennai, arrivals at Chennai Airport have been suspended till 6 pm on Thursday.
At least 14 people have died in Tamil Nadu due to the incessant rains. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert, indicating heavy to extremely heavy rainfall, in parts of Tamil Nadu, including northern Chennai, Tiruvallur, Chengelpet, Kancheepuram, Ranipet, Villupuram and Cuddalore districts.
Heavy rains have been pounding Tamil Nadu due to the formation of a depression in the Bay of Bengal. In its latest bulletin, IMD said the weather system was moving northwestwards at a speed of 14 kmph.
It lay about 80 km east-southeast of Chennai and 140 km east-northeast of Puducherry at 11.30 am. IMD said it was likely to continue moving northwestwards and cross north Tamil Nadu and adjoining Andhra Pradesh coasts between Karaikal and Sriharikota, close to the north of Puducherry, by Thursday evening.
Several roads in Chennai were inundated on Thursday. Due to waterlogging on rail tracks, some suburban trains were suspended while others were delayed.