Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Rainy night turns into a day of traffic woes

— Photos: R. Ragu

TWO SIDES OF WET SPELL: Showers on Friday left many roads in the city slushy and Ranganathan Street in T.Nagar was no exception. (Right) However, for these boys at the Egmore station, rain means a rare moment of joy as it leaves behind stagnating water for them to fish in.

CHENNAI: Thursday night showers in the city brought down the day temperature, but left several interior roads in bad shape. Traffic on various arterial roads in the city was also thrown out of gear during morning rush hour owing to stagnation of water along some stretches.

On Friday, the Meteorological observatory at Nungambakkam recorded 4.8 mm of rainfall, while the one at Meenambakkam recorded 1.5 mm of rainfall during 12-hour period from 8.30 a.m. The maximum temperature recorded in Nungambakkam and Meenambakkam was 31 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius respectively.

Meteorological Department officials attributed the rainfall to the trough of low pressure extending from Gulf of Mannar to West Central Bay of coastal Tamil Nadu and South Coast of Andhra Pradesh.

The rainfall would reduce in the coming days. The department has forecast that the sky will be generally cloudy and there is a possibility of one or two showers or thundershowers in some areas of the city till Sunday, an official said.

Motorists had a tough time negotiating slushy and pot-holed stretches in several localities, including T.Nagar, K.K.Nagar, Vyasarpadi, Perambur, Villivakkam and Koyambedu. Following incessant rains on Friday morning, traffic movement was slow on arterial roads, including Anna Salai, Nungambakkam High Road, Poonamallee High Road and Inner Ring Road.

Bus commuters in various areas, including Anna Nagar and Mylapore, had little option but to wait in the middle of the road as the area near the bus shelters was under a sheet of rainwater.

The situation in suburbs was no different as there was a traffic pile-up on the Thirumullaivoyal and Padi stretch of Chennai Tiruvallur High Road. Several motorists said the rain only compounded the problem for the motorists on the battered road.

Power supply was also disrupted during morning hours in some areas, including Anna Nagar, Ashok Nagar, Kolathur and Ambattur.

The cost of most staple vegetables was normal despite rain for the past three days. Vendors at the Koyambedu wholesale market said retail prices of vegetables that perish fast were relatively high on Friday.

Drumstick, broad beans and carrot were sold at a higher margin in retail market. While drumsticks were sold at Rs.30 per kg, carrots and broad beans were priced at Rs.12 and Rs.15 per kg respectively.

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