Chennai reopened all 22 subways to traffic before 6 am on Sunday after more than 15,000 workers were deployed overnight for rescue operations and rainwater clearance following exceptionally heavy rainfall across the city, the Tamil Nadu government said.
In a press release issued on Sunday, the government said water had been cleared from all major bus-route roads and most waterlogged streets. Pumping operations were still continuing in a few low-lying areas and were expected to be completed within a few hours.
Parry’s Corner recorded the highest rainfall, receiving 36.3 cm in 24 hours. Six locations received extremely heavy rainfall of more than 20 cm, while 12 locations recorded very heavy rainfall exceeding 11.5 cm. The government said rainfall in some areas crossed 30 cm overnight and described the volume as unprecedented.
The response involved the deployment of 650 electric motor pumps and tractor-mounted pumps by the corporation to expedite water clearance across affected areas. One National Disaster Response Force team and four Tamil Nadu Disaster Response Force teams were stationed in flood-prone locations to assist with emergency operations.
Ministers, legislators and senior officials conducted inspections through the night and coordinated the response, according to the government statement. The corporation also opened nine relief centres and arranged food for residents in low-lying areas affected by the rain.
The scale of the operation highlights the demands placed on Chennai’s urban drainage and emergency-response systems when intense rainfall is concentrated within a short period. The government’s account said the city had returned to normalcy by Sunday morning, although water remained in some low-lying pockets and clearance work was continuing.
The government said no deaths or major damage had been reported and described the situation as under control. Officials were continuing to pump water from the remaining affected areas, while most roads had been cleared for movement.
