Tamil Nadu Rainfall: The IMD has upgraded the yellow alert for Chennai and neighbouring districts to orange for today. It has predicted heavy to very heavy rain at isolated places over Chennai, Tiruvallur, among others. Widespread rains lashed out in several parts of Tamil Nadu on Thursday, prompting authorities to declare a holiday for schools in Chennai and several other districts. The Public Works Department officials opened the shutters of two dams in Chennai suburbs and another in Thiruvannamalai district as the water-level is rising in the reservoirs in the state.

Meanwhile, continuous heavy rains have led to the cancellation of four flights of Air India Express that were scheduled to operate and arrive at Chennai Airport on December 12. The airport officials have advised passengers to contact their respective airlines to confirm flight arrival and departure timings.

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According to Air India Express, a flight of the airline to Kolkata scheduled to depart at 10:40 P.M. on Thursday has been cancelled. Similarly, an Air India Express flight from Thiruvananthapuram, scheduled to arrive at 1:45 P.M. at Chennai; a flight from Siliguri, scheduled to arrive at 6:10 P.M.; and another flight from Kolkata, scheduled to arrive at 10:00 P.M. 

According to news agency PTI, about 13,000 cusecs of water was released from Sathanur dam in Thiruvannamalai, while 3,500 cusecs of water from Chembarambakkam dam, and another 1,000 cusecs water was discharged from the Poondi reservoir, as the level of water in these dams dangerously inched towards the full reservoir capacity levels.

As the IMD has issued a heavy rainfall warning, six NDRF teams have been alerted to swing into rescue and relief activity in case of emergency, the government said. It has also urged the people in the low-lying areas in the state to remain vigilant and take appropriate action.

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Overnight rains lashed Chennai and also the neighbouring Tiruvallur, Chengelpet and Kancheepuram, besides Villupuram and some areas in the Cauvery delta region. The authorities have declared a day's holiday for schools in districts, including Chennai, Tiruvallur, Chengelpet, Kancheepuram, Villupuram, Ramanathapuram, Thanjavur, Mayiladuthurai and Cuddalore.
The regional weather office has forecast more spells of rain in Chennai, Tiruvallur, Chengelpet and Kancheepuram, Villupuram, Kallakurichi, Tiruvarur, Thanjavur districts in the state, besides the neighbouring union territory Puducherry.