Cyclone Fengal induced rains cause heavy inundation in Chennai, people park vehicles on flyovers

Chennai: Hundreds of cars parked on flyovers in South and North Chennai, knee-deep water in several localities across the city, rain water entering the ground floor of houses in low-lying areas, and people lodged in shelter camps – this is how residents of Chennai battled heavy rains under the influence of Cyclone Fengal.

Waterlogging was reported from 334 localities across Chennai as Cyclone Fengal, which played truant with the city for two days, dumped huge amounts of rainfall since Friday evening.

Several densely populated localities like west Mambalam, Kodambakkam, Madipakkam, Keelkattalai, Ashok Nagar, Nungambakkam, Alwarpet, Perambur, and Purasaiwalkam reported heavy waterlogging, confining people to their homes.

Follow our live coverage of Cyclone Fengal here.

People in many localities waded through the knee-deep water to buy essentials even as the rains receded in the evening. Most of the interior roads were full of water and portions of arterial roads were waterlogged, making it tough for motorists.

Flyovers in Velachery, Pallikaranai, Medavakkam, and Mint junction in north Chennai, were full of cars as people converted them as parking lots due to the fear of losing them to heavy rains. Almost all low-lying areas in the city were under water with people raising questions over the government’s preparedness.

North Chennai was also equally affected with water entering many houses in several localities. Lakshmi, a resident of Madipakkam in south Chennai, said they have been confined indoors since Friday evening and complained about knee-deep water outside her home.

“We are worried about the potholes in the streets. People might face problems when they walk on the roads. Situation hasn’t changed in this area for the past many areas,” she said.

Water stagnation was also reported from several areas in the city where construction for Chennai Metro is on with water pumps being used to drain water out. As much of South Chennai reported waterlogging and heavy flooding, environmental activists said encroachments along water bodies was the main reason for flooding.

“The reduction in the number of waterbodies in Chennai is the reason for flooding, In 2015, the number of waterbodies in Chennai stood at 119 but it came down to 64 in 2020. It is likely to be 62 this year. The water bodies which were spread over 101 square km have now shrunk to 64 square km,” G Sundarrajan of Poovulagin Nanbargal said.