District Collector M. Abhishikth Kishore on Tuesday directed officials to remain alert in view of heavy rains expected in the district over the next three days under the influence of a depression in the Bay of Bengal.

He directed officials to clear waterlogging promptly and keep relief teams, rescue personnel, vehicles and equipment ready wherever required. Departments concerned were told to coordinate to ensure uninterrupted electricity, drinking water, and sanitation services. The Collector also directed officials to keep people informed through regular alerts and ensure effective functioning of control rooms.

He instructed officials to make advance arrangements to shift people in low-lying areas to safer locations and to move pregnant women nearing delivery to hospitals in advance.

Control rooms have been set up at the Collectorate and division-level centres and will function continuously for three days. The control room numbers are: Collectorate, 0891-2590100 and 0891-2590102; GVMC City Operation Centre, 180042500009, WhatsApp 9014218870; Visakhapatnam RDO office, 0891-2562977; and Bheemili RDO office, 9014093139.

The Collector stressed the need for preventive measures to avoid loss to life and livestock and directed officials to continuously monitor the situation and remain alert.

A few parts of the State, particularly the coastal region, are likely to receive scattered rainfall until Monday. The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) issued a yellow alert for a few northern districts on Sunday, indicating the possibility of heavy rainfall.

The unusual January weather system over Bay of Bengal was the reason behind the break in dry phase this month, prolonging Northeast Monsoon. Heavy rains are likely to lash isolated places in Chennai, Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram, Cuddalore, and Villupuram districts on Sunday.

The RMC had revised heavy rainfall warning on Saturday, and warning was withdrawn for a few districts like Tiruvallur and northern districts on Sunday, due to change in the weather system’s movement.

B. Amudha, Head (Additional in-charge), RMC, said the depression over southwest Bay of Bengal crossed the northeast Sri Lanka coast, close to Mullaittivu, between 3.30 p.m. and 4.30 p.m. on Saturday.

The weather system is likely to weaken into a well-marked low pressure area, inducing wind convergence and causing rainfall activity over coastal parts of the State. As the northeasterly winds converge towards the centre of the circulation, the wind direction is likely to change to Westerlies, she said.

On Saturday, coastal places like Chennai experienced nippy weather, interspersed with light rainfall, owing to the wind influence that brought moisture from the Bay of Bengal. While the wet spell is likely to continue till January 16, rain may largely reduce from Tuesday.

On the updated heavy rainfall warnings, Ms. Amudha said: “We cannot rule out the possibility of intense downpour in coastal areas whenever there is a system in Bay of Bengal. Early warnings are provided to carry out precautionary measures in multiple sectors. On some occasions, we may not receive rainfall as expected owing to complex weather dynamics.”

The RMC has predicted most parts of the State may experience a cool weather as the minimum temperatures is expected to be normal or drop below average over T.N., Puducherry and Karaikal area till Monday.