Monsoon to ease off over next four days

This month, Chennai received 23.3 cm of rainfall which is 57 per cent more than the average rainfall for this period. However, rains may decrease during the next four days.

On Sunday alone, the city received 4 cm of rainfall against the normal of 1.6 cm for the day. On Monday, when the city had minimal showers, localities in fringes such as Avadi received rainfall. Officials of the meteorological department said that the rains marked a good beginning for the northeast monsoon. However, weather models indicate that it would decrease by Thursday or Friday. A low pressure area is likely to develop after Saturday. But, its impact on the State could be determined depending on the direction of its movement.

While rains ceased for the most part on Monday, grievances about the deteriorating condition of the damaged roads such as Kalakshetra road, Thiruvanmiyur continue. According to residents, the potholes obscured by rainwater are a real danger to motorists.

Similar problems afflict residents of Anna Nagar and Kilpauk as the tar has begun to come off the roads resulting in uneven surfaces.

Former Deputy Chief Minister M.K. Stalin visited inundated areas in Kolathur constituency on Monday and threatened protests if the roads were not repaired and encroachments removed. In a press release, he said he had already written to Tamil Nadu Slum Clearance Board and Chennai Collector. Pointing out that the civic agencies’ inaction had aggravated the civic problems, he said the government must immediately take action to rejuvenate the water body in Vannankuttai and repair rain-ravaged roads.

Our Kancheepuram reporter adds

Conversion of blacktopped carriageways into cement roads without stormwater drains has caused hardships to residents of Kancheepuram Municipality. The road level of Railway Road was raised when it was made into cement concrete road a few years ago. Due to this, adjacent roads such as Hospital Road and Ennaikara Street, which are connected to Railway Road, are water-logged, said G.R. Ravi of Thamizh Makkal Panpattu Kazhagam.