While most of the residents of Srinagar Colony in Saidapet were going about their daily chores on Tuesday, a lone policeman turned up there to warn residents of an impending disaster.
He asked them to remain indoors, pointing to the release of 18,000 cusec of water from Chembarambakkam Lake to the Adyar river.
By noon, roads turned into waterways for boats to ferry residents to safety. Some residents chose to remain indoors, concerned about the safety of their possessions.
“We are keeping our fingers crossed. Water has entered the ground floor. The water level is rising,” said a resident of North Mada Street, Sri Nagar Colony.
“Many of our neighbours were surprised to hear that we were marooned. They, however, did not come to our rescue. We remained indoors,” said the resident.
“Many residents were unwilling to shift to safer locations. They remained indoors. Food packets are supplied to such residents at home. We supplied 3.88 lakh food packets on Tuesday,” said Corporation Commissioner Vikram Kapur.
Even as Chennai Corporation rescued 25,595 residents along the Adyar, Cooum and Kosasthalaiyar river on Tuesday, a number of residents of many of the 789 localities that were flooded continued to remain indoors.
S.V. Rayen, a resident of New Kumaran Nagar in ward 197 in Sholinganallur, said inundation in many of the streets was more than six ft.
“Residents are unable to come out of the houses. Corporation officials are not responding to our calls. PWD officials said they were channelising water through Muttukadu. They said the water was flowing in the reverse direction during the day. The situation is expected to change at night,” said Mr. Rayen.
One of the residents in the locality was unable to reach hospital during an emergency on Tuesday evening.
“The ill person also had to remain indoors. We tried to contact the authorities to help her. No official turned up. Our locality is approved by the CMDA. But the 40 Feet road near Buckingham Canal is inundated,” said a resident.
