Rain reveled the ugly condition of roads

M.Sowmiya

Chennai, 24 Nov 2015:The recent heavy rain exposed a number of civic issues, besides leaving several arterial and interior roads flooded. Shoddy civic works and storm water drains added to the difficulty of commuters and residents.

In Korattur Professor Somasundaram, a victim, narrates the harrowing experience he faced during the recent showers, “The water was six feet deep and the electricity supply was cut down for days which left me with no choice but to leave my house until things came back to normal”, he says.

Residents state that the rain fiercely affected shops in the area and commercial establishments would have incurred at least a loss of Rs 50,000 each.

The house which had encroached upon the lake beds faced the wrath of the floods by getting submerged. Few days of flooding also reaffirmed that SWDs are not sufficient, says Suresh, a resident.

Some residents recount the plight of having to wade through rain water mixed with sewage. Some of the main roads were water-logged and many streets were also flooded. The worst was Varadharaja street where water was waist high and mixed with sewage water.

It is reported that the Thangal lake was full and the water was overflowing on the pathway of the newly laid park which is used by thousands of people. Many streets got flooded with the water seeped in some houses. The residents are reported to the authorities to arrange to clear the garbage and waste from the storm water drainages so as to facilitate free movement of water.

With the stagnation continuing for over an week residents were put up to lot of hardship, with no other choice but to swim in the water to meet their daily essential needs including vegetables and milk.