The flash floods have left 251 dead in Chennai, which is on a standstill
Tamil Nadu: The capital of the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu, Chennai has been heaving under a relentless downpour, that read at nearly 35 centimeters after just 24 hours. Several other coastal towns of Tamil Nadu are also under this deluge. Not surprisingly, the Met officials confirmed that no part of Tamil Nadu has undergone such a cloudburst in the past century at least. Although the government and the army personnel are struggling to cope with the relief operations, supplies are reportedly running out rapidly.
Image: The New Indian Express
A majority of the roads are severely waterlogged, along with several rail links. Most importantly, the airport is flooded entirely and flights have been diverted to the naval base. Plus, phone services are inconsistent and unclear and the people are starting to complain. Unable to communicate, loved ones are growing frantic for each other. People are taking refuge on their terraces, especially residents along the Adyar river, which has reached a level as high as the second floor of an average building. The few ATMs that were functioning saw long queues and citizens started stocking up supplies for a few more days, as the Met officers confirmed a similar forecast for the next week. “”The phenomenon will continue for the next seven days, but the next 48 hours are very crucial,” stated L S Rathore, DG, Indian Meteorological Department.
The runway tarmac was completely covered under water and all flights remained cancelled on Wednesday. The Airport Authority of India decided to keep the airport shut until December 6th, for thorough clean up operations and hence, they started taking hundreds of stranded passengers to neighbouring airports of Tirupati and Bengaluru. The road from the city leading to the airport has been damaged, causing traffic by the terminals. The Civil Aviation Minister, Ashok Gajapathi Raju said that flights would be resumed only after the rain stopped. The National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF) will be deploying another 600 men and 40 more inflatable boats, despite the 10 troops that are already on ground. The airfields in Arakkonam, Tirupati, Tambaram and Trichy will be the base of the operations.
At the same time, thousands of people were stuck midway on flooded rail tracks, receiving little help from authorities. Basic amenities like water were said to have reached these people. The exponential rise in water levels caused several low cars to drown, while no inter-state or intra-state buses have been functioning in the region. The highways are hence, deemed useless. roads that saw severe water-logging have been marked off-limits by officials in areas like Ekkatuthangal, Kotturpuram, Guindy and suburban Tambaram. Amphibian vehicles have been sent to Chennai by the Navy.
The second deadly bout of rainfall in the last month, Chennai citizens are being weighed down with apprehension, even with the poor forecast in the next few days. Much like the cloudburst on November 16th that recorded 24.6 cm, the relief operations are being met with obstacles and hence, are failing to reach many people.
Source: The Times of India
Tags: Chennai Chennai rain Tamil Nadu
