Chennai Red Alert: Velachery Residents Use Flyover To Park Their Cars Due To Heavy Rain Forecast

As heavy rain alerts loom over Chennai, residents of Velachery have taken an unusual step to safeguard their vehicles from potential flooding. Concerned about the likelihood of waterlogging in low-lying areas, many car owners have parked their vehicles on the Velachery flyover, creating a striking scene of rows of cars lining the elevated road. The video has gone viral on social media.

The decision to use the flyover as a makeshift parking space comes in response to warnings of intense rainfall issued by the Meteorological Department, which has forecasted severe weather in the region. Velachery is one of the areas in Chennai prone to flooding, with past storms and monsoons leaving vehicles submerged in water.

Already started to park car on velachery bridge?? #chennairain #Chennai @praddy06 @chennaiweather @ChennaiRains pic.twitter.com/u4vbybyyDn

— Mani (@mani17081996) October 14, 2024

Speaking to ANI, a local resident said, "Our area was flooded last year also. My car got damaged and we had to claim insurance and the car is still in the workshop. "

#WATCH | Tamil Nadu | Anticipating heavy rainfall in Chennai with the onset of the northeast monsoon in the next two days, residents living around Velachery park their cars on the Velachery flyover in an attempt to prevent any damage to their vehicles

In light of the heavy rain… pic.twitter.com/PiYLn6RlJb

— ANI (@ANI) October 14, 2024

Vellachery residents parked their cars in Vellachery flyover as a precautionary measure fearing floods.

Residents says, "ours is low lying area and one cant predict mother nature. Last year our car got damaged this year we dont want that to happen again" pic.twitter.com/6nKqKaJ8N0

— Vijayagopal Muralidharan (@vijayagopal_) October 14, 2024

Amid heavy rainfall and forecasts of more downpours, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has declared a holiday for schools and colleges in four districts on Tuesday. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted heavy to very heavy rains across the state. Consequently, schools and colleges in the affected districts will remain closed on October 15, 2024.

In light of the IMD's warnings, the state government has issued an advisory instructing IT professionals to work from home in the affected regions from October 15 to October 18, 2024.

The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) has issued a red alert for several areas in Chennai, with predictions of up to 20 cm of rainfall in a single day during the monsoon season.

IMD Rain Forecast

The IMD predicts heavy rains in several regions, including Dharmapuri, Salem, Nilgiris, and Erode. The arrival of the northeast monsoon is expected around October 15 or 16, bringing significant rainfall to the capital city, Chennai.

The IMD has forecasted heavy rains in multiple districts for October 14, with areas like Dharmapuri, Salem, Nilgiris, Erode, Namakkal, Ariyalur, Perambalur, Tiruchirapalli, Karur, Tiruppur, Coimbatore, Dindigul, Pudukkottai, Nagapattinam, Sivagangai, and Ramanathapuram likely to experience intense rainfall.

Between October 12 and 16, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Karaikal are expected to see isolated heavy rainfall, with the most severe conditions forecasted for October 14 and 15.

An orange alert has been issued for these dates, warning residents of potential flooding and waterlogging. The IMD emphasized, "Isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely over Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Karaikal between October 12-16, with the most intense rainfall expected on October 14-15."