Heavy downpour inundates several parts of Chennai, marks onset of northeast monsoon in Tamil Nadu

Chennai: Heavy rains lashed the city early on Thursday, the first spell since the onset of the North-East monsoon in the state on 28 October, leading to the inundation of several roads and slowing down traffic in many localities. The showers that started late last night continued till morning, leading to waterlogging at several locations. Stretches of the arterial Anna Salai came underwater, while three other key roads were inundated. This slowed down traffic and several two-wheeler riders had to push their bikes through sheets of water after their vehicles stopped. Rainwater entered some houses in low-lying locations like Palavakkam.

#WATCH: Rainfall triggers water logging in parts of Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicted 'generally cloudy sky with heavy rain' in the city today. pic.twitter.com/JteRf3FojW

— ANI (@ANI) October 29, 2020

Greater Chennai Corporation said workers pumped out rainwater from inundated roads and 20 plus subways in the city. “The rainwater was pumped out within two hours though the rainfall was heavy,” a GCC statement said, adding water stagnation was present in only about 10 locations and it was being attended to. The rainfall was heavy in some localities, including Mylapore, which received 18 cm. Other areas, including Kotturpuram, received similar showers, (14 cm Anna University) and Red Hills on the northern periphery experienced 13 cm of rain, a MeT office bulletin said. However, several other areas like MGR Nagar (5 cm) received moderate and mild rains. Several areas falling under nearby Chengelpet, Kancheepuram, and Tiruvallur districts, including Tambaram, Uthukottai, and Mamallapuram, received relatively low rainfall (2 cm), while other areas in these districts like Tiruporur and Sriperumbudur saw precipitation of one cm. GCC said despite the heavy rainfall in Mylapore, there was ’no water stagnation’ and rainwater reached the Sri Kapaleeswarar temple tank in view of the robust stormwater drain network. Also, spots like those in Vadapalani that used to witness water stagnation during monsoon are free of inundation, the civic body said. Till morning, two trees were uprooted and these were cleared. A tree fell on a car at Royapettahdamaging the vehicle. Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic), N Kannan said movement of traffic slowed down in view of water stagnation due to the overnight rains. “However, traffic did not come to a complete halt. We made diversions in a few locations, considering water stagnation,” he said, adding that the full strength of 3,000 traffic personnel in addition to those from the Armed Reserve have been deployed. About 120 spots, identified in the city as vulnerable to waterlogging, were being monitored by patrolling teams, he said. Rainwater has been pumped out of 20 plus subways and vehicle movement has been normalised, Kannan said. He advised road users to exercise caution taking into account slippery pathways and chances of skidding.