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Chennai Commutes Suffer as Northeast Monsoon Lays Bare Potholes and Flooded Arteries

Weather officials warn of extremely heavy rain from a Bay of Bengal depression, intensifying pressure on overdue road repairs.

Overview

  • In new on-ground checks, reporters documented treacherous stretches in Medavakkam and Pallikaranai, with visuals showing two-wheelers and cars negotiating deep potholes and standing water.
  • Key corridors including VelacheryTambaram Road near Narayanapuram, Sardar Patel Road, Rajiv Gandhi Salai, Anna Salai, and Gandhi Mandapam Road developed craters, buckled surfaces, and slow-moving traffic.
  • Residents reported failed or partial fixes and poor restoration after utility work, with a Pallikaranai commuter and others saying recent patch jobs worsened potholes once rains began.
  • Public complaints on X tagged civic and highways handles, yet locals said requests for repairs went unanswered as conditions deteriorated through the latest showers.
  • SCRB data cited by The Hindu show 171 accidents in 2023 attributed to bad roads and 242 to bad weather in Tamil Nadu, underscoring safety risks as the IMD maintains red and orange alerts for heavy rainfall.