Heavy rains have locked Chennai and surrounding areas in a flood cycle. With a low-pressure system churning over the Bay of Bengal, the Regional Meteorological Center (RMC) has stepped up warnings for residents from yellow to orange.

On Tuesday, an alert for rainfall of up to 20.4 cm in just 24 hours was issued for districts including Chennai, Tiruvallur and Chengalpattu, signaling the potential for widespread disruption.

Preparedness measures in Tamil Nadu have been stepped up in response. Deputy Minister of State Udhayanidhi Stalin confirmed, “We have increased the number of pumpers and deployed additional volunteers based on the rainfall patterns observed in October. The Tamil Nadu government is fully prepared for the rains.” He assured that despite the rains, no flooding was reported in Chennai, with only one metro being closed due to unrelated rail works, while the other 21 remain operational.

Adding to the challenges, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has extended a yellow alert to cover the rest of the week in the north coastal and delta districts.

Tuesday’s storm system affected 12 counties; by Wednesday, it is expected to spread to 17 districts, peaking on Thursday with alerts in 27 districts.

The IMD has warned residents of these areas to remain vigilant.

Educational institutions in Chennai were closed on Tuesday as a precautionary measure following the district collector’s orders. While immediate rainfall measured 3.2 cm early Tuesday, the looming forecast has officials on high alert. In the affected regions, efforts to maintain traffic flow and minimize waterlogging are ongoing, with authorities closely monitoring drainage systems and mobilizing additional machinery.

For now, residents are bracing for more rain until Friday, with the rain showing no signs of letting up.