Chennai recorded an average rainfall of 70.25 mm in the 24 hours ending 6 am on Wednesday, inundating several parts of the city and prompting the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) to deploy high-capacity pumps. Authorities also declared a holiday for schools in Chennai, Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram and Chengalpattu districts as the Regional Meteorological Centre forecast more heavy to very heavy rain in isolated areas.
The rainfall generated 1,212 complaints related to rain and waterlogging by 5 am, according to the report. Several neighbourhoods reported flooding, with Vadapalani recording the highest rainfall at 132.9 mm. Saidapet received 125.2 mm, Alandur 119.4 mm, Madipakkam 114.6 mm, Maduravoyal 112.5 mm, Valasaravakkam 109.6 mm, Nungambakkam 106.8 mm and Adyar 104.1 mm.
Northern parts of the city received comparatively lower rainfall. Ennore recorded 39 mm, Kargil Nagar 30 mm and Tiruvottiyur 22.8 mm during the same period. The uneven distribution highlights the pressure placed on local drainage systems when intense rain is concentrated in specific parts of the metropolitan area.
GCC Commissioner G.S. Sameeran said the civic body had deployed additional teams and high-capacity pumps to address waterlogging. Three 100-horsepower motors were being used to remove stagnant water in AGS Colony, which was identified as a major waterlogging hotspot. The corporation also distributed 6,000 food packets to rain-affected people in Virugambakkam on Wednesday morning.
The latest flooding has renewed questions about the effectiveness of Chennai’s stormwater drainage and flood-mitigation works. Residents and civic activists pointed to persistent inundation in T. Nagar and the Panagal Park neighbourhood despite substantial expenditure on drainage infrastructure and related measures.
B. Kannan, secretary of the T. Nagar Residents Welfare Association, questioned why the neighbourhood continued to face waterlogging despite being among the first areas to receive Smart City works involving expenditure of hundreds of crores. He said the flooding highlighted the need to reassess the effectiveness of the infrastructure already built.
Civic activist V. Rama Rao of Nanganallur called for the publication of the Thirupugazh Committee report on flood mitigation. Residents and activists also sought a public consultation to assess the impact of completed works and identify gaps before further rainfall.
The Regional Meteorological Centre has forecast additional heavy to very heavy rain at isolated places in Chennai and neighbouring districts. A low-pressure area is also likely to form over the southwest Bay of Bengal off the Tamil Nadu coast, according to the report. The GCC’s immediate response remains focused on pumping out stagnant water, managing complaints and providing relief to affected residents.
