Chennai rains: People fear 2015 deluge repeat as schools remain closed, transportation takes hit

Normal life was hit in Chennai and several parts of Tamil Nadu as the torrential rains returned on Friday evening after a brief respite in the day.

As several parts of the metropolis remained waterlogged, schools will be closed on Saturday and people were asked to stay home. The University of Madras and Anna University announced cancellation of their semester exams.

Tamil Nadu government appealed private companies including MNCs to allow their employees to work from home.

The death toll in rain-related incidents also mounted to eight in the state after a farmer on Friday was electrocuted while working in his fields.

Chief Minister K Palaniswami visited several water-logged parts of the city and said his government was working on a “war-footing”. The government have set up 105 relief camps in Chennai.

Fear of severe 2015 floods:

As the heavy spell led to fears of a repeat of the December 2015 deluge, the AIADMK government sought to dispel such rumours.

It asked people not to pay heed to rumours on social media that many lakes and reservoirs around the city were about to surplus and that water would be released.

“Do not spread and believe in rumours #work from home and 3^rd Nov leave is 2 avoid traffic jams and to avoid any untoward incident (sic),” the Tamil Nadu State Disaster Management Agency tweeted.

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The regional weather department has forecast “very heavy” rains in the coastal districts and thunderstorms in Chennai for the next 24 hours.

Normal life in Mudichur, one of the worst-affected areas in the 2015 December deluge, was also crippled with heavy water logging of roads and inundation of low lying areas.

Fearing a repeat of the 2015 deluge, the residents of Kancheepuram district staged a protest by squatting on the water-logged Mudichur Road, demanding immediate action.

Chennai transportation takes a hit

Heavy waterlogging on roads hindered free vehicular movement and massive traffic jam situations occurred in many parts of Chennai.

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However, the flight operations were normal at Chennai airport and train services also restored on Friday morning after a “signalling snag” that partially halted services between St Thomas Mount and Kodambkkam station.

The sea remained very rough, with waves rising to several feet. More than 10,000 fishermen did not venture into sea for the fifth day on Friday, official reports noted.

(With PTI Inputs)