Flood alert sounded in Chennai, suburbs

A worker pulls a rickshaw carrying passengers through a waterlogged area in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, on Sunday. Pic/PTI

Heavy rains lashed Chennai and its suburbs overnight leading to waterlogging, and authorities on Sunday sounded a preliminary flood alert to people, as three city reservoirs were opened to release surplus water.

Parts of several neighbourhoods in Saidapet, Velachery, Adambakkam, Madipakkam and West Mambalam also experienced inundation up to about two to three feet. Several subways were filled with rainwater up to several feet. Rainwater also entered several houses.

Health Minister Ma Subramanian said Chennai experienced 20 cm rain in about 12 hours since last night.

In view of increase in showers in catchment areas, surplus water was released from Poondi reservoir, which was raised in a phased manner up to 3,376 cusecs, the state disaster management authority tweeted. Similarly, Chembarambakkam and Puzhal reservoirs, two other important sources of drinking water to the Chennai city were opened to let out surplus rainwater. Sounding a preliminary flood alert, the state water resources authorities earlier advised district collectors of Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur to evacuate people living in low-lying areas.

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