 "Chennai is wrestling with widespread flooding after a severe rainstorm hit the city and surrounding areas on Tuesday. PTI")
Chennai is wrestling with widespread flooding after a severe rainstorm hit the city and surrounding areas on Tuesday.
The city is contending with knee-deep water in several areas, widespread traffic disruptions, transportation troubles, and power outages. With infrastructure overwhelmed by the intense downpour, residents are left stranded.
The situation is expected to become severe as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for parts of Tamil Nadu, predicting “isolated extremely heavy rainfall” for the next 24 hours, followed by “very heavy rainfall” for two additional days.
Here’s how the situation stands and what the government is doing in response.
Flights & trains cancelled, schools shut
Chennai has been hit by unrelenting rainfall since last night, with some areas receiving up to 16 cm, leading to widespread disruptions in flight and train services.
As per ANI report, at least eight domestic flights were cancelled at Chennai airport. The cancelled flights include Akasa Air and IndiGo services, with disruptions affecting both arrivals and departures.
As many as four express trains, Chennai Central-Mysuru Kaveri Express, were also cancelled by Southern Railway, due to waterlogging on tracks between Basin Bridge and Vyasarpadi railway stations.
Several trains were also diverted, and their origin station was shifted to Avadi, several stations away from the Chennai Central Railway station.
Public transportation is also facing the brunt of the downpour as services such as buses slowed to a crawl on flooded, congested roads. Local trains, including Chennai Metro, remained operational but were delayed as they slowed down while crossing the flooded sections of the city.
With more heavy rain predicted, the government on Wednesday has a holiday for schools, colleges, and government offices (barring essential services) for Chennai and neighbouring districts of Tiruvallur, Villupuram, Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri, Kancheepuram and Chengelpet.
In its advisory, the government also asked private companies to facilitate ‘work from home’ for their employees till October 18.
Waterlogged streets, no electricity
As relentless rains and thunderstorms persist, many low-lying areas in Chennai have become waterlogged, leaving residents without electricity for hours.
Regions in north Chennai, including Pattalam, Vyasarpadi, Perambur, Choolai, Pulianthope, Purasawalkam, and Mullai Nagar, have been severely affected by flooding, according to The Hindu.
In flood-prone Velachery, a bustling area in south Chennai, visuals shared on social media show residents hauling their two-wheelers into their apartments.
Some car owners have resorted to parking on the nearby Velachery bridge, while others have sought shelter in hotels.
Celebrities are no less affected, either. According to The Deccan Herald, Superstar Rajinikanth’s luxurious villa in Pose Garden is reportedly inundated, with floodwaters entering the premises. A clip shared on X shows the film star’s flooded house. However, Firstpost could not independently verify this video.
Reports suggest that civic authorities have launched emergency measures to pump water around Rajinikanth’s residence, while his staff monitors the situation to minimise damage.
Government response
To tackle the flooding, Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin announced that National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response teams are on standby across 26 locations in Chennai and surrounding districts.
The Deputy CM also revealed that 219 boats are prepared for rain-related operations. Additionally, 179 relief centres are set up across 300 locations in the city, each capable of accommodating between 50 and 1,000 people.
Earlier Tamil Nadu relief Commissioner Rajesh Lakhoni said in TOI report, “At all the relief centers, medical camps are being arranged. We have ensured that all old age homes and homes for the destitute have kept dry ration for the next 10 days. 80 pregnant women with their delivery due date near have been admitted to different hospitals."
On Wednesday, Chief Minister MK Stalin inspected flood relief efforts and urged officials to expedite the drainage of rainwater in vulnerable areas. He praised the dedication of sanitary and civic workers, said he would stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the frontline workers.
Meanwhile, Greater Chennai Corporation officials reported that they are actively pumping water into stormwater drains and providing shelter and food to those displaced by flooding. They have swiftly removed fallen trees and deployed heavy-duty motors mounted on tractors to address waterlogging.
Furthermore, the Chennai Corporation has established a 24-hour control room to handle rain-related complaints. According to The Times of India, this control centre received 3,650 calls on Tuesday alone, primarily reporting water stagnation and issues with motor pump mobilisation.
The city’s overwhelmed drains
One of the main reasons for water logging in Chennai is its drainage system not being able to handle the downpour.
According to The Newsminute, the construction of Chennai Metro has left stormwater drain (SWD) lines either partially or fully damaged. Although the Greater Chennai Corporation announced in November 2023 that 92 per cent of SWD work was complete, much of it remains unfinished as of October 2024.
In Thiruvottiyur, a North Chennai locality experiencing severe flooding, councillor Jayaram noted that SWD projects are either incomplete or not connected to main canal lines. He expressed concern, stating, “The work in my ward has been ongoing for the past three years at snail’s pace… Our areas could witness flooding if there is above-average rainfall this year.”
With input from agencies