The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : T. Nagar, West Mambalam continue to suffer

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Oct 31, 2006
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

T. Nagar, West Mambalam continue to suffer

Staff Reporter

Manali, Perambur, Pulianthope also not spared; Electricity Board switches off supply to some areas

SOUTH CHENNAI WOES: Waterlogging on Rangarajapuram Main Road in West Mambalam. (Right) A flooded residential area in Kodambakkam. — PHOTOS: S.S. Kumar and PTI

Chennai : Though the rain abated on Monday morning, residents of south Chennai, especially in T. Nagar and West Mambalam continued to suffer because of waterlogging.

The Electricity Board switched off supply to some areas, especially around Rangarajapuram as floodwaters entered junction boxes.

Conservancy work also came to a stand still due to inundation and this has started creating a stink in the areas, residents said.

Several streets in Rangarajapuram, Kodambakkam, were flooded. Residents of Subramania Nagar 1st Street had to wade through knee-deep water to reach the main road.

In West Mambalam, fire tenders were pressed into service to pump out water as ordinary motors were not up to the task. M. Babu, West Mambalam Exnora Secretary, said that Sampangi Reddy Street was clear of stagnant water towards the evening.

Residents' woes in Parankusapuram

One of the worst affected areas was Parankusapuram, near Rangarajapuram main road. A resident Mrs. Rama, who called from an apartment block, said: "We are neither slum dwellers nor affluent people to get media attention or put pressure on officials to solve our problems. We are living in three feet of water for over three days on the ground floor, with no power or drinking water. " she noted.

Health hazard

The problem could turn into a health hazard, as filth and dead animals were entering homes and was flooding yards.

In North Chennai, many parts of Thiruvottiyur, Manali, Perambur and Pulianthope suffered. The Perambur subway opposite the bus terminus was flooded. Motor pumps were used to drain it.

S. Lokabi, a resident of Hyder Gardens in Perambur, said that storm water drains were not desilted leading to flooding in SBI Colony and Mettupalayam.

The Vyasarpadi subway had about three feet of water. Two wheeler drivers who wanted to cross the subway mounted their vehicles on fish carts and got them transported for a fee of Rs. 20 or Rs. 30.

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