Normalcy hit as incessant rain batters Chennai

“Although the arterial roads are comparatively in good condition, traffic snarls were seen at some places due to stagnation. Meanwhile, inadequate maintenance of interior roads and ongoing stormwater drain works has resulted in waterlogging. Potholes added to our woes,” M Vishnupriya, a motorist on Choolaimedu High Road said.

Apart from motorists, pedestrians were forced to wade through the stagnated water as the inlets of stormwater drains are poorly cleared of mud. “Due to the lack of pavement and stagnation on roadsides, on the interior roads become difficult. We have to negotiate vehicles as we are made to walk on the middle of the street,” S Rajabharathi of Abdullah Street in Choolaimedu said.

Meanwhile, the flood control room in Ripon Buildings received only seven complaints and five of them were pertaining to waterlogging. “The complaints were forwarded to zones concerned and the officials are clearing the inundation,” a Chennai Corporation official said. Till Wednesday evening, the ‘1913’ control room received 61 complaints regarding uncleared garbage, water logging and other general complaints. While the major roads in South and Central Chennai managed to evade water logging, the roads in North Chennai were affected worst. “Vehicles moved at snail’s pace in Vyasarbadi and Perambur areas due to inundation on roads,” a resident of Vyasarbadi said.

Meanwhile, the residents of Kailasam Street in Tondiarpet had to face the brunt, due to the water stagnation. “Kailasam Street is a bus route and it houses a government hospital (Chinna Stanley) and schools. The street will get inundated even for after a slight rain. Despite the street is one of the flooding spots, civic officials have not taken any steps to prevent the water logging,” D Babu of Tondiarpet said.