Extremely heavy rain lashed Chennai, Salem and several other districts on the third day after the northeast monsoon began in Tamil Nadu. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) had earlier cautioned that El Niño conditions could lead to higher rainfall in and around Chennai.
The downpour led to waterlogging on key roads in Chennai, with vehicles struggling through flooded stretches. In some areas, floodwater rose high enough to submerge two-wheelers, disrupting movement.
Civic agencies worked to drain accumulated rainwater from subways using high-capacity pumps, including motors mounted on agricultural tractors. The IMD has also warned that Chennai could receive heavy rain again on Monday.
Amid the situation, Chief Minister Vijay visited the Greater Chennai Corporation headquarters at Ripon Building on Sunday afternoon and inspected the emergency control room. He sought updates from officials on flood-mitigation measures and ongoing response work.
The government had earlier assigned ministers to oversee monsoon monitoring across all Chennai zones, with IAS officers appointed as supervisory officials. However, many of the designated ministers and officers had reportedly left the city for the long weekend, drawing public criticism, after which the government issued urgent instructions for them to return to Chennai.
