Flights hit as rain lashes Tamil Nadu

Many incoming flights to Chennai were delayed and arterial roads flooded on Tuesday morning as rain lashed north-coastal districts in Tamil Nadu. Widespread but moderate rain in many parts on Monday night brought minor relief to people after the north-east monsoon played truant following cyclone “Nilam.”

A fresh low-pressure area over the Andaman sea was initially expected to intensify by first week of December to increase precipitation and make up for the deficiency in the north-east Monsoon period in Tamil Nadu. But it weakened into a “trough”, said the Regional Meteorological Centre in Chennai.

The trough now extends from south-central to west-central Bay of Bengal across south-west Bay off Tamil Nadu and south-coastal Andhra Pradesh. As a result, rain or thunder showers may occur at many places in north TN, Pondicherry and a few places over south TN, the Met office said.

Two rain-related deaths were reported in Chennai on Tuesday.