Chennai: The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast Monday “a thunderstorm with heavy to very heavy rains” in isolated places above the districts of Kanyakumari and Tirunelveli in Tamil Nadu.

“A thunderstorm with heavy rain is also likely to occur in isolated places over Thoothukudi and Ramanathapuram districts. A thunderstorm with moderate rains is likely to occur in most places on the rest of the Tamilnadu coast. Light to moderate rains are also likely to occur in most parts of the interior of Tamilnadu. Districts, “the IMD prediction reads.

Schools and colleges in Chennai were closed on Monday due to relentless rains and waterlogging in several parts of the district. The order was issued by the Chennai district collector, Dr Vijayarani.

IMD said last week that isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely to occur over Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal from November 26-29.

On Sunday, rain continued to fall in parts of Tamil Nadu and neighboring Puducherry, inundating many areas. Several roads and subways were also flooded, affecting people’s routines.

In addition to inspecting flooded areas such as Tiruverkadu in Tiruvallur district, Chief Minister MP Stalin interacted with local residents, sipping tea along the road and listening to their grievances. He also provided flood relief assistance to more than 300 people at a suburban school as he reviewed the flood situation with authorities.

Speaking to Twitter, the CM said he was confident that “we will come out of the aftermath of the heavy rains”.

According to the Regional Weather Center, Chennai, Cuddalore and neighboring Pondicherry experienced moderate to heavy rains on Sunday, while scattered, light to moderate rains were reported in other parts of the state.

The Cuddalore-Puducherry belt recorded 7cm of precipitation until 7:30 p.m., while Chennai recorded 6cm (Meenambakkam) and 1cm (Nungambakkam), respectively, the RMC reported.

Many reservoirs in the state have received influxes of monsoon rain, and excess water is being released across the state as a result. Residents of low-lying areas have been evacuated and shelters have been set up.

According to the government, 15,016 people have been accommodated in 188 camps in Kanchipuram, Cuddalore, Tuticorin, Perambalur, Tiruvallur, Chengelpet, Pudukottai, Ramanathapuram, Nagapattinam, Thanjavur, Ariyalur, Ranipettai, Tiruchirappalli, Tiruvamupattur, Tiruchirappalli, and Tiruvamupattur districts.

“In the past 24 hours, two people (one in Cuddalore and Tuticorin districts) have died in rain-related incidents,” the government said in a statement.

Almost a lakh of food packages have been distributed to over 1,000 people living in relief centers here.

The rains have caused waterlogging in and around the coastal town of Cuddalore.

The majority of roads in Chennai and the surrounding suburbs were flooded and several subways were closed as excess water was released from reservoirs.

Diversions have been imposed in several places here and road users have been warned by barricades.

State-run bus services have been halted, but commuter rail services have not been affected.

There were several roads covered with water in this area, blocking vehicles, mainly two-wheelers. Powerful motor pumps were deployed to evacuate stagnant water.