Day-long rain, but high turnout in districts

Though voters in southern, central and some parts of northern districts including Villupuram and Cuddalore remained indoors, by afternoon they started thronging the polling booths with umbrellas. They did not mind waiting in long queues in front of the polling stations braving the showers and this clearly demonstrated their commitment to complete their democratic duty. 

The squally weather condition from Villupuram to Kanniyakumari certainly had an impact on the voting percentage initially. As the downpour subsided in the second part of the day, there was a rise in the turnout. While delta districts experienced rains from Sunday late evening, it became heavy on Monday morning, the polling day. Most of the polling stations looked deserted as the rain lashed the entire region till 11 am. 

Due to rains, many polling stations witnessed power cuts and the officials and the party agents used candles to handle the situation. Meanwhile, at Minikoor in Manapparai segment in Tiruchy, polling was suspended for around 30 minutes when the EVM voting calculations were mismatching.

Later, the Assistant Returning Officer Shiek, who reached the spot, replaced the machine with a new one and asked the 77 voters to cast their vote again.

In most of the polling booths in the urban areas, marquees were arranged to prevent people from standing under rain. Though basic amenities were provided in polling booths in urban areas, the ones in the rural pockets were ignored. 

In polling booths at Idinthakarai in Tirunelveli district there was no lighting facility provided in the morning. Hence people used their mobile phones to poll the votes. 

Meanwhile, in the wake of a depression, which is expected to cross between Nagapattainam and Pamban on Tuesday, distant cautionary signal number three has been hoisted at the Nagapattinam port on Sunday and fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea. 

According to the port, warning number one was issued by the Area Cyclone Warning Centre at Chennai, based on the satellite imagery and observations. 

It is said that a depression that formed over the southwest Bay of Bengal and adjoining Sri Lanka a few days ago, slightly moved Northwest wards and lay over Sri Lanka and adjoining areas of Gulf of Mannar on Sunday and later it moved towards northwest wards where it may stay for 48 hours. 

It is expected that the wind would intensify and blow at a speed of 60 kmph. Owing to the depression effect, many parts of the state could experience severe rain. 

Subsequently, the warning centre had advised the port to hoist distant cautionary signal number three. 

Meanwhile, widespread rain was reported from across the delta districts among which Vedharanyam recorded a maximum rainfall of 10 cm. The department had severe to very severe rain forecast for the region till Tuesday night.