A red alert, which signals extremely heavy rainfall, was issued on Thursday for four Tamil Nadu districts, including Chennai, after incessant showers inundated the roads and caused three deaths, the Hindustan Times reported.

The Regional Meteorological Department has predicted thunderstorm with moderate rain in most places over Tamil Nadu’s coastal districts in the next five days, ANI reported. It also said that extremely heavy rainfall is likely to occur in Nagapattinam district.

Heavy to very heavy downpour in expected in Villupuram, Cuddalore, Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram, Chennai and Tiruvallur districts, the department said.

State Revenue and Disaster Management Minister KKSSR Ramachandran said that the three deaths were reported from Chennai – all of them had died of electrocution, according to the Hindustan Times.

“A red alert has been issued for four districts of Tamil Nadu including Chennai, Kanchipuram, Thiruvallur, and Chingleput in view of heavy rainfall,” he said.

On Thursday, the roads and subways in Chennai were flooded, leading to traffic congestion. The police said that three subways had to be closed after water entered them. The Chennai municipal body deployed 15 pumps to unclog the roads.

The state government on Friday declared holiday for government offices, schools and colleges in Chennai, Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram and Chengalpet districts, The Indian Express reported.

According to India Meteorological Department, the most rainfall, of 17.65cm, was reported from Chennai’s MRC Nagar.

In October, Chennai had received 215 mm of rainfall – a 22% deficit in normal rainfall. However, in November, the rainfall picked up and Chennai recorded 79% excess downpour.

Chief Minister MK Stalin on Thursday visited the flood control room in Chennai municipal body to review the rainfall situation, The Hindu reported.

Meanwhile the weather department has said that isolated and heavy rainfall will also strike coastal Andhra Pradesh in the next three days, the Hindustan Times reported.