As Velachery and its surrounding areas were submerged on Monday, boats were pressed into service to rescue people stranded in flooded houses.
Boats hired by the Chennai Corporation and Tamil Nadu Fire and Rescue Services reached interior areas, including Ram Nagar North, Padmavathy Nagar, Muruga Nagar, Srinivasa Nagar, Annai Indira Nagar, Anna Nagar, and VGP Selva Nagar. A boat from the Indian Coast Guard was also pressed into service.
Chinnammal, a resident of Balamurugan Nagar 3rd Street, found it difficult to move out of her house till a boat was sent to the flooded ground floor.
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Residents of certain parts of Madipakkam and Ullagaram-Puzhuthivakkam were miffed over not being provided boats despite being in a similar situation. They alleged that Corporation officials or elected representatives did not visit their localities. A Corporation official in Velachery said nine boats had been pressed into service to help residents of the region.