Record rainfall batters Chennai; Airport to remain closed

Chennai, Dec 1: After some days of respite, a torrential downpour, termed the heaviest in over 100 years, on Tuesday crippled life here, flooding numerous roads, neighbourhoods, train tracks and airport runways and crippling transport and power supply, residents said.

People working in offices located in the suburbs were finding it difficult to reach home after work and many were stuck in their office.

Power has been cut in several areas as a precaution, while people have been advised to stay wherever they are.

With waterlogging on the airport runway, several flights were delayed. For several hours, flights did not take off or land and hundreds of passengers were stuck inside the airport.

Trains were delayed and some were cancelled as authorities struggled to cope with the after-effects of the fresh torrential rains in the Tamil Nadu capital.

Water logging on the suburban railway tracks forced the authorities to cancel some services while many trains ran behind schedule. Southern Railways cancelled 12 trains and diverted 15 more.

Big sink holes on several roads forced the authorities to divert the vehicular flow.

Speaking to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa said the unprecedented torrential and extremely heavy rains which is the heaviest recorded in the past more than 100 years and has battered the state's northern districts, especially, Chennai, Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram and Cuddalore.

She told Modi that the state machinery is fully geared to meet the challenge.

The state has deployed personnel of the State Disaster Response Force, the Fire and Rescue Service personnel, Coastal Security Group in all the affected places.

A flood alert has been issued along the banks of Adyar river here as surplus water from the Chembarambakkam reservoir have been let out in the river.

According to municipal administration, around 3,000 people living along the banks of Adyar have been relocated at safer place.

According to reports, three lakes in Kanchipuram district were breached due to heavy rains and inflows.

The weather department has warned of heavy rains in Chennai and northern Tamil Nadu over the next three days. The government has declared a holiday for schools in Chennai and neighbouring Kanchipuram district.

During the last spell of rains, around 180 people lost their lives in the four districts of Chennai, Kanchipuram, Cuddalore and Thiruvallur.

IANS