- By Deeksha Gour
- Wed, 03 Dec 2025 09:16 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Chennai News: Heavy rain in Chennai on Wednesday left more than 100 houses in Palavoyal near Red Hills submerged, trapping over 200 residents in rising floodwaters. Despite the Regional Meteorological Centre lifting the Red Alert a day earlier, low-lying areas remained severely affected as water began entering homes early in the morning and continued to rise through the day.
Residents Say Flooding Intensified Within Minutes
Neighbourhoods such as Palavoyal, Kumaran Nagar, Murugan Street and stretches along Sothupakkam Main Road reported rapid flooding after rainwater overflowed from nearby roads and breached lake embankments. Residents said the areas lie lower than surrounding localities and lack proper stormwater drains, causing water to rush in and accumulate quickly.
“For a decade, even moderate rain has flooded our streets. Today the water reached hip level inside our homes,” said P. Karthik of Kumaran Nagar, adding that lake breaches worsened the situation.
Rescue Teams Face Strong Currents
By midday, several pockets saw water rise to chest height, leaving families stranded on rooftops and indoors. Fire and Rescue Services sent two lorries and a boat to reach the worst-affected areas. Officials said 56 people, including 18 children, were rescued as teams navigated strong currents along the main roads.
Excess Lake Inflow Worsened Flooding
Locals explained that water from Sothupakkam Main Road usually drains into Singilimedu Lake. However, the lake received heavy inflow following the downpour and was unable to accommodate the runoff, causing large-scale waterlogging across interior streets.
Calls for Long-Term Solutions
By evening, water levels remained high and residents urged authorities to strengthen lake embankments and put in place a permanent drainage network to prevent repeated flooding during future rain spells.
(With Inputs From IANS)