Chennai Schools Shut An Hour Early, Rain Hits City Hard

Chennai: After it poured all day in Chennai, schools in the city closed an hour early- by 3 pm - on the orders of the government.

The city is reporting traffic jams and water logging in several areas  as a result of the  north east monsoon that  finally hit the southern coast a few days ago.

Bad traffic jams were reported on some major roads in the city  including Velachery and OMR the IT Corridor. In the northern parts, several areas including Kilpauk and Koyambedu were affected. A tree that fell in the Mambalam area blocked traffic close to the commercial hub of T Nagar.  

In December 2015, Chennai was flooded after the heaviest rainfall in over a century, paralyzing the airport and flooding factories in the state that is home to nearly 70 million people.  At least 150 people died that year in heavy rain.

Chennai Corporation Commissioner and Special  Officer Dr D Karthikeyan, said the city is geared up to guard against any repeat. He added "So far we've desilted storm water drains over 1037 KM. We have identified around 300 chronic water stagnation points. We have 400 high powered suction pumps ready."