Chennai, Dec 9 : With Cyclone 'Mandous' intensifying into a cyclonic storm in the Bay of Bengal and expected to touch land at Mamallapuram in Chennai, light to heavy rain was lashing across Tamil Nadu. It has been raining heavily since Thursday night in Chennai and surrounding areas and the water levels in Chembarambakkam and Poondi reservoirs were rising. The authorities have decided that surplus water be released from Chembarambakkam and Poondi reservoirs from 12 p.m. onwards on Friday. Surplus water was to be released at 100 cubic feet per second from Chembarambakkam, Poondi and Puzhal reservoirs. The Chennai district authorities have warned people living in certain low-lying areas of Chennai to be cautious as water would be released from the lakes. The Greater Chennai Corporation has already put in place rescue workers. including the NDRF teams to handle any emergency situation arising out of the cyclonic storm that is likely to touch the land by Friday night. Tangedco has also put in place a team of engineers, supervisors, and other field staff to prevent any untoward incidents related to the breaking of power lines during heavy rain and storm. The revenue authorities have already readied tree cutters and cable workers to remove the trees in case they get uprooted during the storm and rain. /IANS