File image of waterlogged Chennai road
File image of waterlogged Chennai road
Tamil Nadu

Chennai corp’s stormwater drain works only partially effective as rains lash city

When TNM visited the Kasturi Ranga Street, which was given great importance during the corporation’s SWD work, the entire area was flooded with rainwater.
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Following the Greater Chennai Corporation’s work on the city’s stormwater drains (SWD), many areas prone to flooding have seen a marked difference in terms of rainwater drainage this year. In the last 24 hours, even as 2022’s Northeast Monsoon set in and Chennai received rain ranging between 150 to 200mm, areas including GN Chetty Road in T Nagar, Velachery and portions of Mogappair have seen a significant reduction in flooding. According to reports, in north Chennai, Korukkupet and Ramanujam Street where new SWD work has happened, so far rainwater has been draining away smoothly.

But reports are coming in from other parts of Chennai which have been waterlogged. Potholes left by the SWD work have also made driving on flooded roads difficult. Waterlogging in Pulianthope has reached thigh-levels, reports say, and the situation continues to worsen. According to a report by ToI, water had entered houses at Senthil Nagar and Kolathur. Reports also say that water stagnation is occurring in Pudhupettai near Egmore.

When TNM visited the Kasturi Ranga Street, which was given great importance during the corporation’s SWD work, the entire area was flooded with rainwater. In some places, the corporation used motor pumps to drain the water. Semmozhi Poonga, AG-DMS metro, Kasturi Rangan Road, Thirumalai Pillai Road, T Nagar, Valluvar Kottam, and Corporation School Road near the Independence Day Park have also been flooded with rainwater. 

Chennai rainfall in the last 48 hours

Chennai’s Nungambakkam received the highest amount of rainfall in 30 years on the evening of Monday, October 31. As the Northeast Monsoon began in Chennai, several areas saw heavy rainfall and inundation. On Tuesday, the Nungambakkam area received 8 cm of rainfall, which is the highest amount of rainfall in 30 years, and the third highest in 72 years. On November 1, 1964, Nungambakkam had received 11 cm of rain, while the number was 13 cm in 1990, according to Dr S Balakrishnan, head of the Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) in Chennai. 

Read: Heavy rains lash Chennai, Nungambakkam records third highest rainfall in 72 years

According to Tamil Nadu weatherman Pradeep John, Kathivakkam in North Chennai received 155 mm of rainfall. Perambur recorded 141 mm of rain, while New Malani Town and Tondiarpet in north Chennai received 140 mm. Reports from north Chennai have made citizens wary as many roads in Tondiarpet and Tiruvottiyur are flooded with rainwater.

Chennai citizens can contact Greater Chennai Corporation's helpline numbers — 044-25619206, 044-25619207, 044-25619208 — to lodge complaints regarding issues pertaining to the Northeast Monsoon. Citizens can also lodge complaints via the Namma Chennai app and Twitter. Citizens are also asked to contact the control room via 1913 for round-the-clock assistance.

Chennai Rains
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