Flood Threat Looms Over Chennai as Chembarambakkam Lake's Water Level Surges
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Chennai, Dec 12 (NationPress) Chennai and its neighboring regions are currently facing a flood threat as the water level in Chembarambakkam Lake has surged to 21.19 feet.
Officials have cautioned that if the water level reaches 22 feet, water will be released from the lake, heightening the flood risk for low-lying areas in Chennai and adjacent districts like Kancheepuram and Chengalpattu.
Significant rainfall has contributed to the increasing water levels in the lake.
Authorities are vigilantly monitoring the situation and have guaranteed the public that all essential measures will be implemented to manage the risk efficiently.
Chembarambakkam Lake, situated approximately 25 km from Chennai, is one of the two primary rain-fed reservoirs supplying drinking water to the city, alongside Puzhal Lake.
It is noteworthy that the Adyar River originates from Chembarambakkam Lake.
This artificial lake was initially constructed by Rajendra Chola, the son of Raja Raja Chola, and Madeviyar, a prince of Kodumbalur.
The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) has issued 'orange' and 'yellow' alerts for several districts in Tamil Nadu, indicating a well-defined low-pressure system over the southwest and adjoining southeast Bay of Bengal, near the Sri Lankan coast.
This system, accompanied by an upper-air cyclonic circulation extending into mid-tropospheric levels, is anticipated to progress west-northwestward towards the Tamil Nadu-Sri Lanka coastline within the next 24 hours.
On Wednesday, Chennai and its neighboring districts experienced moderate to heavy rainfall, which is expected to persist over the next 24 hours due to the intensified low-pressure system in the Bay of Bengal.
During the current northeast monsoon season (October 1 to December 15), Tamil Nadu has recorded 14 percent excess rainfall, receiving 447 mm against the seasonal average of 393 mm.
Chennai recorded 845 mm of rainfall, which is 16 percent above average, while Coimbatore witnessed an astonishing 47 percent increase in rainfall.
Fishermen have been advised to refrain from venturing into the sea, and those already at sea are urged to return to shore immediately.
This alert follows the aftermath of Cyclone Fengal, which caused considerable devastation in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry between November 29 and December 1.
aal/rad
