Tamil Nadu - Chennai

A trail of water-logging...

— Photo: M. Vedhan

HOME NO MORE COMFORT: Singaram, a resident of Rajiv Gandhi Nagar, Velachery, in his water-logged home on Thursday.

CHENNAI: Cyclone Nisha left a trail of water-logged streets and inundated homes as rains lashed several parts of the city and its suburbs on Thursday.

For residents of west Velachery, the last few days have been full of anxiety. With water having entered most homes in Rajiv Gandhi Nagar, they had a taxing time making futile attempts to pump out water.

S. Solomon, a resident of Indira Gandhi Street, said water began entering the house on Tuesday night but the condition worsened by Thursday morning. Water stood around one foot high in his living room and kitchen. Things were worse in their neighbour R. Ravi’s house. With an aged mother, wife and two young children, he took the precaution of moving to his neighbour’s place on the first floor on Wednesday night, when water began entering the house. “We came down only this morning to see if something could be done. Sewage has mixed with the rainwater and it stinks,” he said. His children were huddled on a sofa and his mother sat with her feet in the water that had flooded the living room.

Singaram, another resident of the same locality, spent the better part of the day sitting on a chair atop his cot in his water-logged home. Bhavani Nagar and AGS Colony in West Velachery and Ambedkar Nagar in Adambakkam were other areas that were badly hit.

Residents in parts of south Chennai, including Sivagamipuram and Radhakrishnan Nagar in Besant Nagar, Thoraipakkam had similar complaints of water entering homes. Some enterprising labourers went around with a diesel motor pump, offering assistance in pumping out the water. “But they demanded Rs.1,500,” a resident said.

West Mambalam was another locality that bore the brunt of incessant rains. Residents said the Duraiswamy subway was blocked as chest-high water stagnated there. Water had entered homes in Giri Street, Chakrapani Street, Parangusapuram Street and parts of Postal Colony.

Aziz Nagar First Street in Kodambakkam, with several apartment complexes, was under knee-deep water four hours after rain stopped, said Guhan, a resident. “There is about two feet water in my ground floor flat. I called the emergency number but the joint engineer who took my call was rude,” he complained.

Koyambedu, Valasaravakkam and Porur were under knee-deep water. The Virugambakkam canal overflowed into localities such as Sri Sayee Nagar Annexe and Raghavendra Colony in Virugambakkam.

I. Panayappan, a resident of Venkatesh Nagar, Virugambakkam, said he was forced to stay indoors the last two days as the water level outside kept rising. “Even if I was ready to pay more than the actual fare, autorickshaw drivers refused to ply in the area,” he said. Those living in Munuswamy Street bordering Virugambakkam had to shift to the first floor of the buildings as water had gained entry into their houses.

M.B. Dhinasekar, secretary of Avvai Nagar Nehru Street Civic Exnora, Choolaimedu, said most streets were under knee-deep water. Several residents were worried that the electric appliances would be damaged.

Tiruvallur Collector G. Sundaramurthi inspected the flood affected areas in western and northern suburbs. Besides Korattur and Ambattur, he also visited Thirumangalam Road, Elango Nagar and Padi Srinivasa Nagar.

A resident of C.R. Ramakrishnapuram, Mugalivakkam, said her house was submerged in waist-deep water. “My house borders Mugalivakkam panchayat and Manapakkam panchayat. “The L&T service road remains a muddy stretch as it has not been developed. Our requests to lay proper roads are being met with an explanation that the road belongs to the Defence Colony and hence cannot be laid,” she said.

Fisheries Minister K.P.P.Sami visited the low-level areas in Tiruvottiyur, particularly Kargil Nagar, on Thursday. A. Mallika, a resident of Kargil Nagar, said the water level has risen to more than waist level and several huts had sunk under water. While some residents have shifted to safer places, others have taken refuge in the nearby church.

(With inputs from Meera Srinivasan, R.Sujatha, K.Lakshmi and Kannal Achuthan)

© Copyright 2000 - 2009 The Hindu