Chennai was lashed by persistent rainfall through Tuesday night and Wednesday morning as Cyclone Montha brushed past the Andhra coast, bringing widespread showers and gusty winds to the city. According to the Regional Meteorological Centre, most areas recorded light to moderate rainfall, but North Chennai faced the heaviest impact. The weather station at Ennore registered a massive 106.5 mm of rainfall, marking one of the highest figures of the season, while Nungambakkam and Meenambakkam observatories recorded 47 mm and 35.2 mm respectively. The sudden downpour led to waterlogging in several pockets of the city, especially in low-lying and poorly drained areas.

Residents of Manali, Choolaimedu, Sholinganallur, and Kannagi Nagar woke up to flooded streets and overflowing drains, forcing many to wade through ankle-deep water to reach schools and workplaces. In Elanthanur and Dwaraka Nagar of Manali, locals complained of stagnant pools that made vehicle movement nearly impossible. “Water stagnation here isn’t always severe, but it’s recurring,” said M. Kamalakannan, a Manali resident. “The issue mainly arises due to pothole-ridden and unpaved roads. During rains, these turn into mini ponds, disrupting traffic. The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) must prioritise repairing roads, especially in Dwaraka Nagar and Elanthanur, before the monsoon intensifies.”

Responding to the situation, the GCC has ramped up its monsoon preparedness measures. The civic body deployed 1,496 motor pumps of varying capacities across the city to tackle waterlogging. On Tuesday alone, 22 tractor-mounted pumps and 19 diesel pumps with a combined capacity of 100 HP were pressed into service in flood-prone zones. In addition, seven super sucker vehicles have been stationed strategically to remove silt, debris, and garbage choking stormwater drains, ensuring smoother drainage flow. Corporation officials added that 457 tree-cutting machines are on standby to deal with fallen branches, and that more than 66,000 trees have already been pruned since July 1 as part of preventive safety work.

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Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin conducted a surprise inspection at the Integrated Command and Control Centre at Ripon Building around 1 a.m. on Tuesday. He personally reviewed the city’s rain-response operations, examining complaint data received through the 1913 helpline and social media platforms. Udhayanidhi verified whether complaints were properly logged, tracked, and resolved within the stipulated time, urging officials to stay alert as the northeast monsoon intensifies. His late-night inspection reflected the government’s efforts to maintain transparency and ensure swift civic action amid increasing rainfall activity.

With the northeast monsoon gaining strength, civic authorities have advised residents to report any incidents of flooding, tree falls, or power outages through the GCC helpline (1913). Weather experts have forecast continued light to moderate rain across Chennai and its suburbs over the next 48 hours, with isolated heavy spells likely in coastal areas. 

Also Read: Cyclone Montha Brings Heavy Rain and Strong Winds to Chennai and Northern Suburbs