CHENNAI: The showers have stopped, but thousands of Chennai residents continued to have a miserable time as their houses remained flooded on Monday.

Houses in Kotturpuram, Ramavaram, Manapakkam were submerged in seven feet of water. Stretches of interior roads in Virugambakkam, Arumbakkam and Koyambedu were still water-logged. In Ambattur industrial estate, work has been badly affected in 500 of the 2000 units. Residents of inundated Madipakkam-Taramani areas commuted by boat to buy essentials.

In Thiruvallur, the district north of Chennai, several tanks, including the Pichavaram tank near the Andhra Pradesh border, overflowed, flooding many hamlets to the east and south.

Weeks to recover

Localities along the banks of the Adyar and Cooum will take several weeks to recover from the flooding caused by the incessant rain on Friday.

"The worst thing is that we have no news of whether things are improving or getting worse. No TV because of the power shutdown and no newspapers are being delivered," rued J. Anitha, a resident of Manapakkam.

Chembarambakkam lake's surplus — the cause for so much damage — continued to be discharged on Monday as the level of water in the reservoir was just 2.4 feet below full level. The inflow was 11,000 cusecs and the outflow the same, in the morning. By night the discharge came down to 8,000 cusecs.

Rescue operations

The Army, police and fire services personnel continued their rescue efforts in the affected areas. Barring those residing on the ground floor, most people preferred to stay put in their homes even if surrounded by neck-deep water.

The Chennai Corporation faced the most challenging task of ensuring that adequate shelter, food and medical care was available in relief centres in the city. Four lakh food packets were distributed. "With regard to prevention of water-borne diseases, we are waiting for the water to recede. As there has been no rain, water will drain by tomorrow night. Then, disinfectants will be sprinkled," said Corporation Commissioner M.P. Vijayakumar. In the flooded areas of the IIT campus and Raj Bhavan area, forest officials rescued ten spotted deer. They were taken to the Children's Park in Guindy.

The Sathyamurthi Sagar dam in Poondi received 3.5 cm rainfall in the 24 hours ending 8.30 a.m. Monday. The outflow, which was about 17,000 cusecs on Sunday evening, came down to 10,000 cusecs on Monday night. About 3,500 cusecs was released from Red Hills reservoir.

Forecast

The Regional Meteorological Centre has predicted cloudy skies and moderate showers in Chennai, Kancheepuram and Thiruvallur. Heavy rainfall has been forecast for South Tamil Nadu.

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