Chennai airport has suspended arrival of flights between 1.15 and 6 pm due to severe weather conditions including “strong” winds up to 45 km that are expected to hit the city as the depression over Bay of Bengal will cross the coast between north Tamil Nadu and south Andhra Pradesh on Thursday evening. Rain-related incidents have claimed 14 lives across Tamil Nadu with Chennai receiving record rainfall of 61 cm against a historical average of 41 cm between October 1 and November 10.
In another tweet, the airport regretted the inconvenience caused to passengers due to severe weather conditions.
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“Passengers are requested to contact concerned airline(s) for any updates regarding schedules. @AAI_Official.”
Schools and colleges remained closed in Chennai and other districts for the fourth day, while several areas in the capital city are waterlogged for a fifth straight day. Authorities have urged people to stay home unless it is an emergency.
Heavy rains lashed several Tamil Nadu districts on Wednesday and Thursday morning.
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The rains have also affected vehicular and rail traffic, flooding 13 subways besides residential and commercial areas in Chennai. Southern Railway the rains had affected most of services from Chennai Central to Tiruvallur due to waterlogged tracks at Avadi and Ambattur.
On Tuesday, the Madras High Court censured the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) over frequent flooding in the city, warned of suo moto proceedings if the municipal body failed to address the problem.
Chief Minister MK Stalin blamed the previous AIADMK regime for “shoddy” handling of a Rs 5,000 crore project to fix the Chennai’s storm water drains.
The 38 cm rainfall between October 1 and November 10 in Tamil Nadu is 52% above historical average.
