Chennai and its neighbouring districts experienced severe disruption on Thursday as intense rainfall lashed the city, leading to widespread waterlogging and bringing vehicular movement to a virtual standstill during the morning rush hour.
Commuters Face Nightmare Journey
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) had sounded the alarm, and the predictions proved accurate. Major arterial roads, including the heavily trafficked GST Road and areas around Porur, were transformed into virtual canals. Commuters found themselves stranded for hours as vehicles navigated through knee-deep water, with many cars breaking down and exacerbating the gridlock.
IMD's Stern Warning
The weather office has been unequivocal in its forecast. Heavy to very heavy rainfall is very likely to continue over Tiruvallur, Chennai, Kancheepuram, and Chengalpattu districts for the next 24 hours. An orange alert has been issued, urging residents to exercise extreme caution and avoid venturing into low-lying areas.
Precautionary Measures Activated
In response to the deteriorating conditions, district administrations have sprung into action:
- School Closures: Schools in several affected zones declared a holiday to ensure student safety.
- Traffic Advisories: Police were deployed at critical junctions, issuing real-time updates and diverting traffic from submerged underpasses.
- Public Awareness: Authorities have consistently advised the public to stay indoors unless absolutely necessary.
A Familiar Yet Unwelcome Scenario
For residents of Chennai, the scenes of inundated streets and crippled infrastructure brought back memories of the devastating 2015 floods. While the current situation has not reached that extreme, it underscores the city's persistent vulnerability to intense monsoonal weather and the urgent need for robust urban drainage systems.
As dark clouds continue to loom over the capital city of Tamil Nadu, all eyes remain on the sky, with hope for a respite and a cautious administration working to mitigate the rain's impact.
