Thousands of residents flee north Chennai

Thousands of residents are fleeing north Chennai, where no rescue services are operating. There were flash protests across the region against non-availability of essential items in the past two days.

The Vyasarpadi bridge is completely blocked as is the Vallalar Nagar bridge with an exodus of thousands of people. Ambulances too are not able to get through. R.K. Nagar, Tondiarpet, Sathyamoorthy Nagar, Vallalar Nagar, Kodungaiyur and Mint are completely inundated and it is difficult to see dry land anywhere.

Photo: V. Ganesan (The Hindu)

Residents blocked the Vallalar Nagar bridge and shouted slogans such as "for the government, Chennai starts and ends at Poes Garden and Gopalapuram." They said,"We have never been considered residents of Chennai and today you can see the effects of this."