Cyclone Ditwah: Heavy rains batter Chennai as storm stalls near Tamil Nadu coast, check updates

Heavy rainfall and winds from the remnants of Cyclone Ditwah continued to batter Chennai and neighbouring districts on Wednesday as the weakened weather system stalled close to the coast of Tamil Nadu. Earlier a deep depression, the storm has weakened into a well-marked low-pressure area along the North Tamil Nadu-Puducherry coastline. But it has continued to bring repeated bursts of heavy downpour over Chennai, Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram, and northern coastal districts since the early hours of Tuesday.

The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) has issued an orange alert for several northern districts -- including Chennai, Tiruvallur, Ranipet, and Kancheepuram -- warning of very heavy rainfall through Wednesday. The Nilgiris and Ghat sections of Coimbatore may receive up to 20.4 cm of rainfall while 18 other districts -- including Vellore, Tiruvannamalai, Madurai, and Virudhunagar -- remain on yellow alert for heavy rainfall. In Chennai, downpour remained intense and uneven, with the citywide average standing at 6.17 cm over a 24 hour-period.

The prolonged rain has prompted precautionary releases from key reservoirs. Meanwhile, low-lying neighbourhoods in Chennai witnessed waterlogging and traffic disruptions. According to weather experts, Cyclone Ditwah's stall has made it impactful. The depression is now expected to stay near Chennai for the next 36 hours. The RMC forecasts that the system will further weaken into a low-pressure area by Thursday. Schools and colleges across Chennai remained closed on Wednesday as local authorities declared a holiday in view of the rains.