Incessant rains have battered roads in several areas in the city. In spite of brief spells of respite on Monday, stagnation and waterlogged roads are a common sight.
On Thandavaraya Street in Tondiarpet, parts of Tiruvottiyur High Road, Vyasarpadi, Korrukkupet, Kolathur and some areas of T.Nagar and Velachery, the residents blamed the authorities for stormwater drain problems as their areas continue to remain under sheets of water.
Residents of Vyasarpadi said that despite continuous pumping, the Ganesapuram subway and adjoining the roads had knee-deep water. Compounding the problems for motorists using Tiruvottiyur High Road was the incomplete stormwater drain work.
Srinivasapuram in Korattur and Indian Bank Colony, Ambattur OT, were some of the worst-hit areas in western suburbs. K. Sambasivam of Indian Bank Colony said that as the other roads had been blacktopped, the level of First Main Road became low, leading to water stagnation.
In Gowl Bazaar, a suburb behind Chennai Airport, a 51-year-old man went missing in the Adyar river on Monday. Police said Raju, who was herding his cattle, tried to cross the causeway across the river connecting Gowl Bazaar and Gerugambakkam. He jumped into the river to bring back to the banks some cows swept away. Houses in many low-level areas such as Madipakkam and Pallikaranai were waterlogged, and traffic was affected on rain-battered arterial roads awaiting repair.
Meanwhile, the Meteorological Department forecasts less rainfall in the coming days. On Monday, Nungambakkam received 6 mm and Meenambakkam recorded 12.3 mm in the 12 hours ending 8.30 p.m.
Mayor M. Subramanian, who inspected the rain-hit areas in north Chennai, said the city recorded 46 cm of rainfall in the past four days. Otteri Nullah canal flowed to its brim, inundating Meenambal Nagar in Korukkupet.
The civic body distributed nearly 2.7 lakh food packets in the past two days and about 6,900 people were screened at medical camps organised by it, said a release. About 230 roads, such as G.N. Chetty Road, Paper Mills Road, T.T.K. Road and Kodambakkam High Road, were being repaired, the Mayor said.
