Tamil Nadu - Chennai   

Spattering and splashing spell over city

Photos: R. Ragu and A. Muralitharan

SPRAY AND SURGE: A vehicle, in a dashing drive, throwing water about much to the discomfort of a pedestrian at Egmore on Friday. (Right) A typical post-rain scene on the GST Road in Chromepet. —

CHENNAI: Unseasonal rain lashed the city on Friday and is predicted to continue for another two days.

Meterological Department officials attributed the rainfall to a low pressure area that formed on Thursday over the Lakshadweep and adjoining Maldives islands. Rains or thundershowers were likely at most places in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, with heavy rainfall and very heavy rainfall likely at a few places.

Such rain is very rare for this time of the year, the officials pointed out.

Nungambakkam recorded 5.5 cm of rain and Meenambakkam 4.6 cm between 8.30 a.m. and 8.30 p.m. on Friday.

The rainfall between 8.30 a.m. and 8.30 p.m. on Thursday at the same stations was slightly over 1 cm and 8.4 mm respectively.

While there was not much water stagnation in the central parts of the city, problem spots on arterial roads, including stretches of Anna Salai, were under water for some time on Friday evening.

The problem was compounded for residents of some localities of west Velachery such as AGS Staff Colony as the Chennai Corporation had dug up portions of some roads for stormwater drain projects. Likewise, motorists also found travelling on the stretch of Velachery Main Road where work is on to construct concrete medians tough.

Chennai Corporation officials said that all efforts were being made to prevent water-logging and that its personnel were manning the subways to pump out water and ensure that there were no traffic bottlenecks.

Traffic, however, is bound to be affected, if similar rain continues on Saturday too, officials added.

In the southern suburbs of Chennai, the flow of traffic on arterial roads went haywire owing to water-logging. Some of the spots where traffic problems were acute were the Kathipara intersection, Tirusulam and Chromepet on Grand Southern Trunk Road.

Normal flow of traffic in Chromepet is affected every time it rains, residents complained.

Choked drains resulting in inability of rain water to flow across the median is the cause.

The State Highways Department is constructing a minor bridge and once completed, water stagnation could be prevented, to a large extent, officials said.

Residents of suburban localities also complained that commuting on the potholed interior roads became dangerous, following such rain.

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