The New Indian Express 07.12.2010
TN: Rain pours non-stop misery
As the weatherman predicted intensified rainfall in the state’s northern coastal districts, the government declared a holiday for schools in Chennai, Tiruvallur and Kancheepuram districts on Tuesday as well. Also, the Madras University has postponed its degree examinations for undergraduate, postgraduate and professional courses.
Several ministers, including Deputy chief minister M K Stalin, are on a tour of the flood-affected parts of the state to assess the damage to crops, property and lives.
EMU services in Chennai were disrupted as water stagnated on tracks along the Beach-Tambaram stretch. Roads wore a deserted look as schools were closed and people largely preferred to stay indoors.
Chennai Mayor M Subramanian surveyed the inundated areas, and said inflatable boats had been readied to evacuate people.
The worst-affected was the commercial hub T Nagar, where many streets and roads were either fully submerged or not motorable. Several pockets of Purasawalkam, Egmore, interior Triplicane, Kodambakkam, Adyar and Washermenpet too were under knee-deep water. Some 150 high-powered pump-sets are on standby to flush out rain water from different parts of the city.
Parts of Anna Nagar, Perambur, Vyasarpadi, Ambattur, Guindy, T Nagar and Purasawalkam suffered power outages. Seventeen trees were uprooted, causing traffic jam in several areas of the city.
The Met office said the current spell of rains would continue for the next two days as the low-pressure area formed over the southeast Bay off Sri Lankan coast was set to cross the Tamil Nadu coast.
