Chennai experienced widespread waterlogging during the first intense spell of Northeast monsoon rain on Saturday night. However, the floodwater drained in most parts of the city by dawn, barring Perambur and Velachery. In Perambur, Stephenson Road and areas near the Ganesapuram subway were among the areas affected.
The prolonged stagnation raised concerns about the efficiency of the stormwater drainage system and the preparedness of civic authorities for intense rainfall during the Northeast monsoon.
Vanaja, an autorickshaw driver, said rainwater had entered her vehicle and damaged its engine, leaving her stranded near Tondiarpet. K. Shanmugam of the Federation of North Chennai Residents’ Welfare Association said that floodwater had drained in most localities, including Madhavaram.
Govardhan of the Community Welfare Brigade said that while floodwater had receded in Madhavaram, the area continued to lack proper roads, drainage facilities, and Metrowater supply, and several civic works had been left incomplete.
Meanwhile, a few localities in West Velachery experienced stagnation, despite the presence of a stormwater drain network. Residents of AGS Colony, Saraswathi Nagar, Bhuvaneshwari Nagar, Aandal Nagar, and Mohanapuri faced flood-like conditions due to the slow drainage of rainwater through Veerangal Odai, which is connected to the Pallikaranai Marshland.
AGS Colony experienced waterlogging beyond 9.30 a.m. on Sunday. Greater Chennai Corporation’s (GCC) Regional Deputy Commissioner (South) Aftab Rasool and Superintending Engineer (South) R. Murali monitored the operations in the area.
“Waterlogging was reported across AGS Colony. Water levels began to recede after pumping operations started around 10.30 p.m. [on Saturday]. GCC officials have been working on the ground since last night, without food and water,” said Geetha Ganesh, Secretary, AGS Colony Residents’ Welfare Association, Velachery West.
Geetha Ganesh, a resident of AGS Colony, said water stagnated to a depth of around one foot in some localities, including the 4th Main Road. However, it receded a few hours after the rain stopped early on Sunday, as the GCC had installed a heavy-duty pump at Veerangal Odai to drain rainwater, she said.
Information Technology Minister R. Kumar attributed the flooding in AGS Colony to the area’s low-lying terrain.
As for East Velachery, Southern Railway had deployed an earthmover for desilting the six-vent culvert located near the Velachery MRTS Railway Station, which helped prevent flooding in its localities. There was no inundation in TANSI Nagar, and traffic on the Velachery flyover returned to normal by Sunday morning.
Incomplete works
Deputy Mayor M. Magesh Kumaar raised concerns about inadequate desilting and incomplete drainage works in south Chennai, pointing to inundation in some parts of Saidapet and silt-filled catch pits on G.P. Road and Anna Salai.
A few areas in Saidapet had experienced inundation, he said and flagged concerns about inadequate desilting and monitoring,
Water stagnation was also reported on Medavakkam Municipal Road and Govindan Road in Saidapet. Gaps in the stormwater drain network along Arcot Road were also a key concern, with funding and coordination issues reportedly delaying the completion of the work.
MLA P. Saravanan said that in Sholinganallur, desilting and cleaning of canals and the Pallikaranai marshland were under way. He added that steps were being taken to ensure the safety of residents in Kannagi Nagar and Ezhil Nagar Tamil Nadu Urban Habitat Development Board tenements and those in Jalladianpet, which are prone to flooding.
Meanwhile, Additional Chief Secretary Gagandeep Singh Bedi inspected the Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC) at the Ripon Buildings and reviewed floodwater removal operations. He also visited a centralised kitchen in Chintadripet and flood-prone areas such as Angalamman Koil Street and Ganesapuram subway.
Many social media users drew attention to the absence of councillors during field inspections. Mayor R. Priya, the Deputy Mayor, and several councillors did not visit affected locations, even as residents reported prolonged water stagnation and damage to roads and public infrastructure, they said.
Meanwhile, the Corporation said no rain-related fatalities or major accidents were reported in the city, despite exceptionally heavy rainfall.
More than 15,000 personnel were deployed overnight to clear waterlogging and carry out rescue operations.
Speaking to reporters after reviewing operations at the ICCC on Sunday, Public Works and Sports Development Minister Aadhav Arjuna said parts of north Chennai, including Broadway and Mannadi, had experienced intense rainfall, resulting in stagnation in low-lying areas.
Meeting held
He also held a meeting at the Ripon Buildings with Ministers and officials of the Municipal Administration and Water Supply Department and the GCC assigned to oversee monsoon work. Following this, the Ministers held meetings at the zonal level.
Mr. Arjuna said additional teams had been mobilised until October 21, as further rain was expected. Over 100 personnel from the State Disaster Response Force were also deployed, and senior officials and Ministers were monitoring field operations.
According to the GCC, 650 motor pumps and tractor-mounted pumps were deployed, alongside a National Disaster Response Force team and four Tamil Nadu Disaster Response Force teams.
All 22 subway underpasses had been cleared and reopened to traffic by 6 a.m. on Sunday. Nine relief centres were opened, and food was distributed to residents in low-lying areas. The Corporation said water had been cleared from major bus routes and affected streets, with pumping continuing in a few locations.
The Minister advised residents to exercise caution while travelling and avoid playing in stagnant water, particularly near electrical equipment.