Chennai Rain Eases, Yet Many Suburbs Still Flooded Schools Closed Again
Persistent waterlogging from Cyclone Ditwah disrupts mobility across Chennai, Tiruvallur, and Chengalpattu districts
Chennai, Dec 4: Schools in Chennai and Tiruvallur districts remained closed on Thursday following days of persistent rainfall linked to Cyclonic Storm Ditwah, which left several neighbourhoods waterlogged and disrupted daily life.
Chennai District Collector Rashmi Siddharth Jagde announced the third consecutive school closure as intermittent showers and stagnant water continued to affect mobility. In neighbouring Tiruvallur, District Collector Pratap declared a holiday for schools in areas experiencing heavy rain.
Overnight Rain Eases, But Low Lying Areas Remain Flooded
Although showers weakened by Thursday morning, many parts of the region were still affected by overnight downpours and runoff from surrounding catchments. Traffic moved slowly through inundated stretches in the southern suburbs, despite brief breaks in rainfall. The Regional Meteorological Centre said rainfall intensity is expected to reduce further over the next 24 hours as the Bay of Bengal system weakens but warned of occasional heavy spells in some pockets.
Chengalpattu Suburbs Face Severe Flooding
In Chengalpattu district, areas such as Kolathur, Balur, and Appur, under the Chengalpattu and Kattankulathur unions, were heavily affected. Runoff from the Ninnakarai forest belt flooded Kairampedu, leaving long stretches of the Kuduvanchery–Kottamedu Road submerged. At Perumattunallur bus stand, rainwater created stream like flows along the carriageway, forcing motorists to crawl through the flood.
Further south, Vishnupriya Nagar near Guduvanchery remained among the worst-hit areas, with over 100 homes reporting water entering their premises. The situation has renewed concerns about stormwater management in rapidly expanding neighbourhoods.
Officials Urge Caution Despite Signs of Improvement
While rainfall has eased in much of Chennai, authorities continue to monitor low-lying areas prone to sudden water accumulation. Residents have been advised to exercise caution, as intermittent showers may persist throughout the day.
