Chennai battles floods as Diwali begins; What’s next for Tamil Nadu’s monsoon crisis?

Chennai: As the Diwali festival kicked off in Tamil Nadu, celebrations in Chennai were disrupted by relentless rainfall that lashed the city and its suburbs on Monday. Several neighbourhoods including Velachery, Medavakkam, Pallikaranai, and Neelankarai along the East Coast Road (ECR) experienced severe waterlogging, slowing traffic and inundating homes and streets.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), widespread rainfall is expected across the state through October 22, raising concerns about flooding and infrastructure preparedness.

IMD Warns of Intensifying Weather System Over Bay of Bengal

The IMD has issued alerts over the formation of a low-pressure area in the southeast Bay of Bengal, which could intensify into a depression or deep depression as it moves west-northwestward. This weather system may contribute to continued and heavier rainfall along coastal Tamil Nadu and neighbouring areas.

The weather agency forecast light to moderate rain with thunderstorms and lightning in multiple districts, with 64.5 mm to 111.5 mm of rainfall expected across:

• Coimbatore, Erode, Tiruppur
• Nilgiris, Theni, Dindigul
• Madurai, Ramanathapuram, Virudhunagar
• Karaikal, Pudukkottai, Cuddalore
• Nagapattinam, Mayiladuthurai, Thiruvarur, Thanjavur
• Kancheepuram, Chengalpattu, Villupuram

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CM Stalin Reviews Monsoon Preparedness

Taking note of the growing weather-related concerns, Chief Minister MK Stalin conducted a high-level virtual review meeting with District Collectors on Sunday. From the State Emergency Operations Centre in Chennai, he assessed the readiness of various departments to manage the Northeast Monsoon and mitigate flood-related issues across vulnerable districts.

Thoothukudi Hit by Waterlogging, Schools Shut

In Thoothukudi, four days of continuous rain have left roads and neighbourhoods under water. The district administration announced school holidays to ensure student safety amid the flood conditions. Despite waterlogging, markets remained open, although many shops faced limited foot traffic.

Train Services Suspended in Nilgiris After Landslides

In the Nilgiris, heavy downpours led to landslides, blocking railway tracks on the Nilgiri Mountain Railway (NMR) route between Kallar and Coonoor. As a result, the Southern Railway cancelled three trains:

• Mettupalayam–Udagamandalam (Train No. 56136 & 06171)
• Udagamandalam–Mettupalayam (Train No. 56137)

Authorities cited “earth slips” and fallen trees as causes for the disruption.

Chennai’s Infrastructure Under Strain

The Chennai International Airport witnessed water accumulation on its runways, while visuals circulated on social media showed vehicles wading through knee-deep water across multiple areas. Commuters faced delays on arterial roads, with water entering homes in low-lying residential zones, especially in Velachery and Medavakkam.

Overflowing drains, clogged stormwater channels, and unrelenting showers have once again exposed the city’s inadequate monsoon infrastructure.

Rain to Continue; Public Urged to Stay Alert

The IMD has forecast moderate rainfall to persist in Chennai, Chengalpattu, Cuddalore, Nagapattinam, Puducherry, Karaikal, and other nearby districts for the next 48 hours. Authorities have urged residents to avoid unnecessary travel and remain indoors where possible, as intermittent rain continues to pose flooding risks.