Nightlong rains sink suburbs
CHENNAI: It was the turn of several northern districts, including Chennai, Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur on Friday and Saturday, to face the wrath of the monsoon rains.
Residential localities in most of the suburbs of Chennai, falling in the limits of three neighbouring districts of Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur, were inundated. Many arterial stretches that connect these districts with Chennai were flooded and traffic was severely affected.
Mudichur, Sembakkam, Chengalpattu and Guduvanchery turned into ghost towns as public started leaving for safer places or relative’s houses as water entered homes. Evacuation of residents was carried out in full swing by the Special Task Force and Fire and Rescue Services personnel. In areas like Tambaram, Pallavaram, Ambattur, Avadi, Maangadu and Pallikaranai where personnel did not turn up, residents were forced to wade through waist-deep water. On Saturday morning, the rescue team evacuated residents in rubber boats from apartments in
and around Tambaram. Locals in Chengalpattu said there was heavy and unprecedented flow on streets in their areas and several vehicles were washed away.
Guduvanchery was the worst-hit due to the continuous rains. The residents of Medavakkam and Pallikaranai also suffered water logging since Friday night. The situation was nightmarish as most lakes in the region were overflowing. “There is no relief or help from the State. Adding to the scare, snakes and insects started straying into houses,” said Karthikeyan from Pallikaranai. The premises of the Government Hospital of Thoracic Medicine in Sanatorium on GST Road was under several sheets of water. Sewer overflow and water logging were common complaints in Avadi housing board, Ambattur industrial estate, Pallavaram, Sembakkam and Anagaputhur areas. “Though the area is waterlogged not even one zonal official visited the place,” said Manoj Kumar, a resident of Ambattur. Special officer for rain relief works P Amudha also inspected the rain hit areas in Chengalpattu and Tambaram areas.
CHENNAI: The overnight rains in the city have left more than 450 streets waterlogged, forcing the Greater Chennai Corporation to deploy 820 motor pumps across the city. Also, three subways have been closed for traffic movement.
According to a Chennai Corporation report, as many as 455 streets reported waterlogging between Thursday and Saturday, of which waterlogging has been cleared from 54 streets as of Saturday at 10 am. “Works to remove water from the remaining 401 streets in 105 locations are underway,” an official said.
Major roads, including Usman Road in T Nagar, streets in Jawahar Nagar, AGS Colony, and others, have been worst-hit due to the rain. Moreover, the Rangarajapuram two-wheeler subway, Madley subway, and Ganeshapuram subway were closed till 10 am. However, waterlogging from Ganeshapuram subway was removed and traffic flow resumed by afternoon.
Anticipating heavy rains, the civic body has made elaborate arrangements to mitigate the flood situation across the city by identifying severe flooding areas. “As many as 820 motor pumps have been placed at identified spots so that the rainwater could be pumped out immediately,” an official said. It may be noted that as many as 1,128 streets and roads were flooded during the recent heavy downpour and some of the streets continued to be under the water for over a week. Tree fall was also reported in 11 spots and all the trees were removed.
Flooded subways closed for traffic
The Madley subway and the Duraisamy subway in T Nagar and Ganeshapuram in Thiru Vi Ka Nagar have been closed for vehicles again due to water stagnation. Traffic resumed on the subways only a few days ago after the stagnant water from the previous spell was pumped out. Also, the subway for two-wheelers in Rangarajapuram near Kodambakkam has been flooded for over two weeks now. While the Rajamannar Salai and the Anna Main road in KK Nagar, and the stretch under the GN Chetty flyover remain waterlogged for several days after the rains receded a week ago, the vehicles have been rerouted. The Mega Mart road in Valasaravakkam too was inundated on Saturday and the vehicles were diverted to Kesavardhini Road to reach Arcot Road.
Traffic from Medavakkam to Sholinganallur has been restricted and diverted to Sholinganallur via Kamatchi Hospital, police sources added.