(Image source from: Record Rainfall In Chennai Paralyzes Life)

It is the record rainfall in Chennai along with overflow water from reservoirs that paralyzed life besides hammering rescue operations. Swelling rivers submerged bridges. Water has over flown from lakes in the suburbs. Thousands of people lost shelters. Many thousands were struck at the homes without water, food and electricity.

Coming to modes of transport, Airport was closed from past two days because of water logging on run way. It will remain so until Sunday noon. Arterial roads were even closed partly, and busses were off the road. Trains have not moved an inch, and most of them were suspended. To add to the paralytic environment, telephone networks’ disruption as well as power supply suspension is on.

Measured rainfall of 29.4 cm in the capital city and 49 cm in Tambaram in 24 hours from 8.30 a.m. on Tuesday have not allowed to carry out the rescue operations. In 1901, the previous highest rainfall in Chennai on a single day was recorded in December.

Water devastations in Chennai

•    Two-decade-old bridge partly collapsed on the Avadi-Poonamallee High Road near Tiruverkadu. As per the reports, water flowing below the bridge eroded pillars’ base.
•    Shifting of girders on the bridge across the Adyar led to the cancellation of Suburban train services,
•    According to Southern Railway officials, ballast was washed away by water below the tracks between Urapakkam and Guduvanchery.
•    The calamity was of very high intensity that the combined effort by the Army, the Navy, the National Disaster Response Force, and the Air Forc was not enough to attend the distress calls, which were pouring all through the day.
•    Navy is deploying rescue ship from its Eastern Command in Visakhapatnam.

People displaying ingenuity during crisis

•    People of Chennai reached out to homeless, provided shelter, and rescued so many people via social media.
•    People rescued fellow citizens at places like Tambaram, Velachery, and Mudichur, from building where ground floors submerged and water rose to first floors.
•    Makeshift boats were used to bring people to safety. The boats were made up of rubber, drums and anything else.
•    Food and essential items were distributed by voluntary and religious organizations.

An aerial survey would be taken by the Chief Minister Jayalalithaa to look at the affected districts on Thursday.

-Sumana