Brace yourselves, rain is here to stay

CHENNAI: The rains of Thursday morning haven’t drained out of the roads yet, Met officials state Chennai is likely to get more rainfall. By Wednesday morning, the city had received 62 mm of rainfall, while the airport observatory recorded nearly half that amount, 32.3 mm.The incessant rains that lashed Thursday morning left many arterial roads inundated till afternoon. A sunny afternoon ensued, with mercury touching 33.5 degrees, which helped reduce water levels. Through the day, Chennai had received 1.4 mm rain in Nungambakkam, and 1.9 mm in Meenambakkam. Rain or thunder showers are expected to continue in a few parts of the state on Friday, reads the Met forecast.Kannan, who travels to Nungambakkam from T Nagar for work daily, said the inroads near Valluvar Kottam were so inundated that autorickshaws were used to cut across roads. “It cost me Rs Rs 60 to reach Khader Nawaz Khan Road from Lake View Road near Valluvar Kottam on Thursday morning. I usually only pay half that amount,” he said, adding that the water-levels had subsided towards the evening.On account of the rains, schools in Chennai district had been closed. The examinations scheduled for the day were rescheduled to Saturday. Met officials described the rain as normal, localised activity. Records available with the Met office show the city has received 65 per cent excess rainfall than usual between June and September 28.