Battered roads, traffic jams and chaos – the story on day one
Relentless rain on Friday marked the arrival of the northeast monsoon in the city. The consequent traffic snarls and water-logging served as a frightful prelude to the next couple of weeks.
The trough in the easterlies that remained over the Bay of Bengal had caused the rainfall over the coastal districts, including Chennai. Incessant rainfall on Friday had many people remaining indoors in fear of negotiating inching traffic on inundated roads. On Friday, Nungambakkam and Meenambakkam registered 6.6 cm and 5 cm respectively during the 12 hours ending 8.30 p.m.
Vehicles piled up on several localities in the evening, leaving motorists waiting on the roads for hours together. Stretches around Koyambedu junction of Jawaharlal Nehru Salai, Central station and Kilpauk Medical College Hospital on Poonamallee High Road were inundated, clogging localities nearby.
Meteorological Department officials said that this year, the monsoon arrived a tad earlier than the usual date — October 20. Last year, the onset was declared on October 25. In 2009 and 2010, the monsoon set in on October 29.
The rain for the past three days over Tamil Nadu has exceeded the average rainfall for the period by 10 per cent. The State has so far received 11 cm of rain against the average of 10 cm experienced during this time. Marakkanam registered 12 cm, which is the highest received in the weather stations across the State during the 24 hours ending 8.30 a.m. on Friday.
Y.E.A. Raj, Deputy Director General of Meteorology, Regional Meteorological Centre, Chennai, said that normally Tamil Nadu receives 43 cm of rainfall during the northeast monsoon that lasts till mid-December. Though it has been a good start for the season, some districts such as Tiruvallur, Karur and Salem are yet to get sufficient rainfall.
Keywords: northeast monsoon, monsoon rains, Meteorological Department, relentless rains, incessant rains
We shall try to route and save this rain water.
@Ms.Lakshmi has poured out her helplessness.This is what many hygiene-
loving people want to...Sadly not just Chennai even Bangalore has such
problems(Not to this large scale!).The difference being the people pour
onto streets if the Corporation is apathetic but in our city people
enjoy wading through floodwater. If people are self-conscious then the
authorities will do the needy fearing retaliation.When will Chennaiites
come onto the streets for a clean Chennai?!
Corporation execute projects not for the sake of project but for other considerations.
hence the chennai can not escape from this problem, unless tough action is taken on
the corporation officials and the contractors concerned. Can it happen in India ?
The flooding problems in Chennai and other Indian cities are not very different from what some of the older US cities experience, though sewage systems do not clog the water flow. Thunderstorms may bring immediate flooding in some US cities but drain away in an hour or so - however, the bigger issue in the US is when rivers start rising and cresting.
Against this, in Chennai, flooding is commonplace in areas like T. Nagar and Nungambakkam - I have missed or gone late to Board exams about 35-40 years ago, and I see that Chennai has not changed much - flooding and chaos in the streets, subsequent water stagnation leading to mosquitoes actively breeding, sewage and water mixing up and so on.
If the TN government has a singular focus to improve city infrastructures in Chennai and elsewhere, it can attract global investment capital and major corporations like honey attracting bees!
Happened to be in Chennai this week ,when Chennai had its first spell of monsoon rain.The rain is always a wonderful sight and for me who was in the city to attend a marriage,the experience was not that great.The traffic was gruesome,the autofares equalled taxi fares and in most places,Bus stops were open to the sky !!sigh-It was a pain moving around the city on such a day and I only wonder -if the city is prepared to face a heavy monsoon.The metro rail diversions add to the dismay of road users.It seemed as though a few streets had turned into tributaries of the "Adayar" .I was reminded of my experience this year in Mumbai during the monsoon.As much as it rained ,there was little water logging and autowalas demanded only meter fares.The drainage system of Mumbai city was healthy at the outset.
Just a question-Without proper drainage system in place,what will be the state of the Metro rail system during monsoon days in the future?
Govt.must take necessary action to save the rain water. Govt. allotted adequate staff and funds to manage the rain water but our Govt. officer should monitor the staff and work area.
Rainwater harvesting system should be implemented first in Govt. and Corporate office. Then we have request to domestic people to implement this.
Previously, same Govt. did the great to implement the Rainwater harvesting system. Please gear up.... and implement this... and monitor every quarter...
Karthik
Amidst the Global climate change this time its really a better monsoon for Tamilnadu. I request the people not to abhor this rain. Even though it might be a hindrance for us in carrying out the routine works, but this rain is more important at this right time. Please welcome monsoon happily and so it will keep returning at right times in future.
thank you.
Good start for Tamilnadu & hope that fighting for water with
neighbouring states will stop .
Rain always slows down traffic everywhere. That is not the news here. The news is that in most parts of India there is no good infrastructure to drain the water and this is what has been happening forever. After 65 years of independence, I don't believe the situation has changed for the better. Sure, there are lot of buses, lot of people drive cars and motor cycles, but it is a real hell on regular days to be a commuter in our cities and towns. And on a rainy day, it really hits the fan. And the bigger question is, what happens when we get a massive amounts of rain where the buses and cars simply can't move and submerge in the water. Is there any plan to rescue motorists and passengers. I really doubt it. India is really not prepared for any disaster. Exploding population in India is a disaster that has been happening for many decades now, if not centuries.
Flooding, water logging, overflow of sewage during monsoon season--nothing new to the residents of Chennai. The Government of Tamilnadu should prepare for monsoon season well ahead of time and take necessary precautions. The Government does not give a hoot about the sufferings of ordinary people. People seem to have no power to force the Govt. officials to take care of these problems. Chennai is big "chakkadai", stinking with stagnant water. It is not srimgara Chennai but chakkadai Chennai. Neither the government of Tamilnadu nor the residents of Chennai pay any attention to hygiene. What a disgrace!
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