Residents of Velachery got both the public's and cops' attention after they started parking their cars over the flyover amid heavy rain.
Published Oct 14, 2024 | 5:14 PM ⚊ Updated Oct 15, 2024 | 10:24 AM
Cloud formation over Tamil Nadu on 14 October. (IMD)
Following the formation of a strong low-pressure area over the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal, heavy rains will continue for the next few days in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal, said the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Monday, 15 October.
A red alert warning is also issued for 16 October in the Chennai, Thiruvallur, Chengalpattu, Kanchipuram, Cuddalore, Villupuram, Mayiladuthurai, Nagapattinam and Thiruvarur districts of Tamil Nadu.
A red alert indicates a forecast of very heavy to extremely heavy rain of over 20 cm in 24 hours. IMD also forecast very heavy rains in Tamil Nadu for the next three days.
In light of the heavy rain forecast, the Tamil Nadu government has declared a holiday for schools and colleges in Chennai, Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram, and Chengalpattu districts for October 15.
Based on experiences from the last floods, anticipating heavy rainfall, residents in Chennai’s Velachery decided to park their cars on the flyover.
It is hard for people living in and around Chennai to forget what happened when the city was flooded the last few times. Cars parked outside their residences started floating as roads were flooded by the heavy rain.
So, this time around, from the residents’ point of view, they were taking a precautionary measure. However, cops decided to fine them for it, In this context, traffic police in Chennai have come under sharp criticism for deciding to fine ₹1,000 per car per day.
Meanwhile, the Greater Chennai Corporation has announced helpline numbers and other ways to reach authorities in case one has to.
Citizens can report rain-related complaints and rescue operations in areas under @chennaicorp to the helpline number 1913, control room phone numbers and social networking sites.
In view of the #NorthEastMonsoon, people in the areas under the Greater #Chennai Corporation can… pic.twitter.com/eQeu831lXR
— South First (@TheSouthfirst) October 14, 2024
Following this, the Tamil Nadu government directed all district collectors to take necessary precautions to ensure the safety of the public.
Chief Minister MK Stalin held a consultation meeting with district collectors and corporation officers participated in this meeting at the state Secretariat in Chennai.
He inquired about the measures taken to deal with the heavy rains.
The meeting decided to provide holidays to schools and colleges in Chennai, Thiruvallur, Kanchipuram and Chengalpattu districts on 15 October and instructed IT companies to make their employees work from home for three days.
National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and Tamil Nadu Disaster Response Force will be deployed in the areas that could be affected by the rains with rescue boats in all 15 zones in Chennai.
The chief minister directed district monitoring officers to carry out preparatory work for recovery and relief in collaboration with the district administration.
He instructed officials to scale up the metro rail and local train services for the convenience of the public.
Directing proper control of the price of essential commodities, he instructed officials to ensure an uninterrupted supply of milk and milk products through the Aavin Company. Adequate stock of food items will be made in old age and care homes.
The meeting has decided to move the people from flood-prone areas to the relief camps to ensure their safety.
It also directed the concerned authorities to ensure uninterrupted power generation, power supply and additional manpower at the control centre. Water levels in dams will be continuously monitored along with the amount of rainfall and water flow.
Essential supplies will be ensured at the relief centres from Monday, including medical facilities, decided the meeting.
The chief minister directed the officials to arrange alternative routes if traffic is affected by rain and flood. Adequate light strips and safety barricades will be erected near hazard probable roads in all districts at night.
“In view of the heavy rain warning, people should not gather at beaches, tourist spots, places of worship and water bodies,” Stalin advised.
He also asked the employees of the Chennai Corporation to be job-ready throughout the days of heavy rains.
“A red alert has been issued in Chennai for 16 October, and the corporation employees should ensure that they are on duty 24 hours a day,” the chief minister said.
“21,000 employees working in the Chennai Corporation should be on duty on a rotational basis,” the Chennai Corporation Commissioner ordered.
Meanwhile, the Greater Chennai Corporation has taken measures to face the Northeast Monsoon.
The corporation had dug 33 long water canals in 53 km. It has also cleared 765 km of rainwater drains and the drilling of an additional 1156 km is underway.
It has also put on hold 990 motor pumps and heavy-duty pump sets equipped with 57 tractors along with motorising 21 tunnels to prevent rainwater from stagnating. 169 relief centres and 35 public kitchens are ready for people who might be evacuated from low-lying areas.
A round-the-clock emergency control and monitoring centre is also operational. The corporation has announced that the public could call 1913 or contact on WhatsApp (+919445551913) for all grievances.
Tamil Nadu State Disaster Response Force’s 18 teams equipped with 450 soldiers are on standby for relief and rescue operations.
Of the teams, three are already in Chennai, and six deployed in Nella have been called to Chennai. Three teams each in Tiruchirapally, Coimbatore and Mettupalayam are ready to reach Chennai.
Apart from this, 10 disaster response teams are ready at the National Disaster Response Headquarters in Arakkonam.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil)
