Festive travel rolls ahead in downpour

Cities and rural belts across Tamil Nadu braced for the Diwali rush as heavy monsoon rainfall pounded the state, yet shoppers filled markets and transport services pressed into extra duty to keep travel moving.

- HD Bureau

The festival of lights is due on 20 October and authorities worked to prevent weather-related disruption as families made last-minute arrangements. Forecasts from the India Meteorological Department and the Regional Meteorological Centre in Chennai show sixteen districts under heavy-rain warnings, with some expecting 12-20 cm of rain in a 24-hour window.

The onset of the northeast monsoon has poured sudden inflows into reservoirs and triggered first-stage flood alerts for the Vaigai Dam in Madurai district and surrounding areas.