Northeast monsoon: GCC Commissioner asks officials to address public complaints immediately

Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) Commissioner G.S. Sameeran on Saturday (October 17, 2026) asked officials to address public complaints immediately and ensure that emergency measures were in place as the Northeast monsoon progresses.

At a meeting with officials at Amma Maligai in Ripon Buildings, he reviewed preparedness for the Northeast monsoon and El Niño. He said Chennai had received widespread rainfall on Friday (October 16) evening and night, prompting officials and field staff to undertake night-time fieldwork.

The Corporation has kept 1,320 pumps ready to remove stagnant rainwater, including high-capacity 100-HP motor pumps, tractor-mounted pumps, and portable pumps. Officials were asked to deploy them wherever necessary.

More than 75,000 dangerous tree branches have been removed so far. The Commissioner asked officials to continue the work and ensure that fallen trees were cleared immediately.

He also asked officials to keep boats and their operators ready to evacuate residents from low-lying areas to relief centres and provide them with food. In areas without stormwater drains, pumps must be deployed to remove accumulated rainwater.

He stressed that officials and field staff must work on a war footing and ensure necessary safety measures, particularly for elderly persons and persons with disabilities.