Chennai: Tamil Nadu Government issued a red alert for heavy rainfall for five districts of the State by IMD two days ago. Incessant rains have battered the state and caused widespread damage to crops, buildings, and roads. It has also led to water logging and flooding in several areas till now.

Due to heavy rains in Tamil Nadu the Government declared holiday for schools and colleges in 22 districts after several areas were flooded, schools and colleges in seven districts of Tamil Nadu and in Chennai in anticipation of heavy rains. IMD forecasts very heavy rainfall in Tirunelveli and Kanniyakumari districts on Monday and heavy rainfall in Ramanathapuram and Thoothukudi.

Many districts in the state got a respite from rains today amid a very heavy rain forecast. Chennai received only up to 6.5 mm of rain till 5:30 pm, Kanniyakumari 4 mm, Nagapattinam 17 mm, Thoothukudi 0.5 mm, Thiruchendur 11 mm and Kodaikanal 15 mm. Rainfall recorded 7 cm in Cuddalore and Puducherry 6.6 cm.

Officials are bracing for water logging, severe crop damages, uprooting of trees, damage to cattle, and an increase in water levels in the rivers and lakes following the heavy rainfall warning. Crops spread over more than 50,000 hectares have been battered by heavy rain in Tamil Nadu till now which received 68% more than the average downpour this monsoon season.

More than 2,300 homes have been damaged due to the heavy rain which has been pounding the State since October. Two thirds of the State got flooded as the rain peaked with two successive spells in the second week of November.