Heavy Rain in Chennai Sparks Fear of Deluge ‘Version 2.0’ Again
The famous Marina beachfront and service lanes were under a vast sheet of water
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Torrential overnight downpour threw normal life out of gear in several parts of Chennai and neighbouring districts, even as the Marina Beach locality recorded a whopping 30 cm of rain, on Friday, 3 November.
As the heavy spell led to fears of a repeat of the December 2015 deluge, the AIADMK government sought to allay any such fears.
It asked people not to pay heed to rumours on social media that many lakes and reservoirs around the city were about to surplus and that the water would be let out.
As the monsoon remains vigorous, most parts of the city and the suburbs received heavy rain on Thursday night, with the Director General of Police office near Marina beach recording 30 cm rainfall in 24 hours.
The famous Marina beachfront and service lanes were under a vast sheet of water, presenting the picture of an extended sea.
The coastal district of Nagapattinam continued to suffer monsoon fury, with incessant rains submerging houses and affecting standing crops over thousands of hectares.
The regional weather office has forecast heavy to very heavy rains in the coastal districts, and thunderstorms in Chennai and its suburbs for the next 24 hours.
Anna University and University of Madras announced cancellation of their semester exams.
Chief Minister K Palaniswami, accompanied by some senior ministerial colleagues, visited a few affected areas, including Jayalalithaa’s constituency R K Nagar.
The incessant downpour also crippled life in suburban Mudichur, an area under Kancheepuram district which was one of the worst affected areas in the 2015 December deluge, as heavy water-logging of roads and inundation of low-lying areas was reported.
Residents expressed fears of a repeat of the 2015 deluge, when many of them had left homes for safer pastures. Some of the residents also staged a protest by squatting on the water-logged Mudichur Road, demanding immediate action.
Areas like Vyasarpadi and Otteri in north Chennai, parts of West Anna Nagar in central Chennai, and Madipakkam and Velachery in south Chennai are facing heavy water-logging. Civic officials said efforts were on to clear the same.
The mild and intermittent showers post-noon on Thursday, 2 November, became moderate and then heavy in some pockets later in the night, inundating several more neighbourhoods, including West Mambalam and the Guindy Industrial Estate, the MeT said.
As a result, buses, taxis, autos, and suburban train services were affected, leading to traffic snarls in many places.
Transportation Takes a Hit
While heavy water-logging hindered free vehicular movement, a "signalling snag" partially hit train services between St Thomas Mount and Kodambakkam suburban section.
Flight operations at the city airport were normal, airport officials said. However, a report by local news publication Vikatan said flights between Chennai and Tuticorin were cancelled.
The Nungambakkam weather station in the city registered 18 cm rain and Meenambakkam in the southern suburb recorded 14 cm rain till 8.30 am on Friday. Parangipettai in Cuddalore recorded 14 cm rain.
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