Chennai Rain Returns After Brief Break, Leaving City to Face Waterlogging and Power Cuts

Chennai: The city has been witnessing heavy downpours for several days now. In the month of June, there has been intensified rainfall across the city. However, residents also saw a brief break from rain since July started, but it intensified on Wednesday evening. While the showers brought back joy to some, many complained about Chennai being submerged in water, and pitch-dark when the power was cut. Amid this, residents should brace for more rainfall on Thursday.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), there will be a generally cloudy sky all day, with light rain. The maximum temperature on July 4 (today) is 38 degrees Celsius, whereas the minimum temperature dropped to 30 degrees Celsius.

The Met office has predicted that there will be a drop, and the city may see another break until this weekend. During this time, the maximum temperature is expected to stand at 38 degrees Celsius. However, rain will intensify from next week, said the IMD.

Chennai, however, did not take the rain well. Citizens complained that within one hour of rain, several roads in the city were submerged in knee-deep water. A video shared by a social media user on X, formerly Twitter, showed excessive water stagnating on the roads, making it difficult as well as risky for commuters to navigate through. The social media user claimed that the visuals depicted Mahatma Gandhi Road in Nungambakkam.

In a different video from Chennai’s Marina Beach, posted by another ‘X’ user, the impact of strong winds amongst heavy rainfall was evident.

Accompanied with thunderstorms, the heavy rainfall caused long power outages in several parts of the city, leaving the residents in pitch dark. One of the videos on the social media platform showed an incident of short circuit, which was recorded in camera during the rainfall.

“Hi @TANGEDCO_Offcl #tneb #chennairain #chennai due to light storm n rain, small tree is touching d neutral n phase lines resulting bursting for more than an hour. Pls can anyone look into it and take action atleast by morning. Its near by 2nd Street, Lakshmi nagar, moulivakkam,” wrote the user. To which, the authorities responded saying that they had taken the note of the matter.

In another post, a man argued that the electricity was out when the rainfall started. However, he added, the electricity was not restored even though the rain subsided in his area.

“45 min since rain have stopped. still power not restored No 114 vepery high road periamet chennai 3. Offical numbers are not reachable, please help immediately,” he wrote.