Chennai, Dec 31 (BPNS)

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, M.K. Stalin has declared a holiday on Friday for all government offices except those engaged in essential services, schools, and colleges in Chennai, Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur, and Chengalpatu districts of the state due to heavy rains.

It may be noted that three people lost their lives in Chennai due to electrocution and four subways are closed due to waterlogging.

Chief Minister M.K. Stalin visited the waterlogged areas of the city and met the Greater Chennai Corporation commissioner Gagan Singh Bedi and other officials at the commissioner office in Rippon building on Thursday night to evaluate the situation.

Traffic movement is slow due to the subways being shut and heavy waterlogging in certain areas of Chennai.

Revenue and Disaster management minister, K.K.S.S.R Ramachandran while speaking to BPNS  said, “Three people have lost their lives in Chennai and surrounding areas due to electrocution and disaster and relief work is in full swing. We have already shut four subways due to waterlogging and two companies of NDRF are already in the city.”

He also said that with respect to heavy rain forecast the Chief Minister has declared a holiday on Friday to Chennai and adjoining districts.

Heavy rains have led to the increase in storage level of Chembarambakkam lake with the storage level rising to 98 percent of the total capacity. The inflow, according to officials is 2900 cusecs while the outflow from the lake is 1000 cusecs.

Several parts of Chennai and Kancheepuram districts continue with waterlogging and the weather department has issued an alert of heavy rains in the districts of Chennai, Kancheepuram, Chengalpattu, and Tiruvallur on Friday.