Chennai rains: IMD withdraws red alert, flight arrivals resume

The depression over Bay of Bengal has started crossing coast near Chennai, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Thursday. "The depression has started crossing coast. During the past six hours, it has moved with a speed of 16 kilometre per hour and the landfall process will continue for the next two hours," Deputy Director General of Meteorology, S Balachandran said while speaking to reporters. 

The red alert for Chennai indicating extremely heavy rainfall, is withdrawn he said. The Minister for Revenue and Disaster Management, KKSSR Ramachandran also said that the weather system has



started crossing the coast near here.

Chennai airport has also resumed normal operations. The airport had suspended incoming flights till 6 pm due to strong crosswinds. Passengers have been asked to contact the concerned airline(s) for flight schedules, the airport tweeted.

As many as 14 people have died in the Tamil Nadu during days of heavy rains. Several districts in the state were on high alert as a depression over the southwest Bay of Bengal was set to cross northern Tamil Nadu today evening.