The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Commuters left at the mercy of rain

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Oct 26, 2006
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Commuters left at the mercy of rain

Staff Reporter

One more heavy spell likely today

CHENNAI : Hundreds of commuters across the city were stranded for several hours following heavy rain on Wednesday evening.

Some missed their flights out of the city while others waited for hours on the road caught in the heavy traffic jams caused by the downpour, as water inundated several spots across arterial roads. Around 9.30 p.m., the newspaper office received calls from panic-stricken stranded residents, who poured out their woes.

Mangala Rajesh, who works in a private company in Nungambakkam, had a torrid time reaching home at Madipakkam as the Anna Salai was entirely clogged in traffic jam, from Nandanam to the Guindy overbridge. Starting her journey at 6.30 p.m., she reached home at 9.30 p.m.

Sanjay Bansali and his friend were stranded for over two hours and 45 minutes on the Anna Salai. Mr. Bansali, who was travelling from Parry's Corner to the Meenambakkam Airport to take a flight to Bangalore was dismayed when the traffic moved at a snail's pace. When he realised that he had missed his flight he tried to return home. "The traffic was heavy till Teynampet. It took me two hours, from 7.30 to 9.30 p.m. to reach the SPIC building at Guindy from Cenotaph Road. I called up the airline and I was told that more than 40 per cent of the passengers did not turn up. My flight was scheduled for 9.10 p.m."

Outside the Central Railway Station, in front of the Government General Hospital, hundreds of people who were returning from work waited for buses for several hours. The Metropolitan Transport Corporation's services were few and far between in several areas. At St Andrew's Kirk near the office of `Dina Thanthi' on Poonamallee High Road, rainwater stagnation brought the traffic to a standstill.

The Pallikaranai marsh area, which is the city's natural drain during monsoon, overflowed resulting in inundation in the southern suburbs. People returning from work late in the evening, especially towards the south, were unprepared for the struggle they encountered.

Inundation of the Grand Southern Trunk Road from Guindy up to Tambaram blocked traffic flow. Subways in Pazhavanthangal, connecting Nanganallur and surrounding areas with GST Road, and those in Tambaram were choked by traffic and flood water.

According to the Meteorological office, in 24 hours ending 8.30 p.m. on Wednesday, Meenambakkam recorded nearly 11 cm rain while Nungambakkam recorded 6.1 cm of rain for the same period.

While Meenambakkam received 5.2 cm rain in 12 hours ending 8.30 p.m. on Wednesday, Nungambakkam received only 2.8 cm for the same period. Both areas received heavier spell on Tuesday night.

Rainfall is expected to continue on Thursday also with a few spells of rain or thundershowers. One or two spells may be heavy.

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