As 35 Lakes Breach Their Banks, Chennai Goes Under Again Complete Breakdown of Essential Services; Arterial Roads Become Unmotorable; Most Bus Routes Remain Inundated

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CHENNAI 2 | CITY THE HINDU WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2015 Order to demolish buildings set aside Unsung artists behind classic musicals Questioning the government’s urgency in seeking to demolish the second block of Thillana Mohanambal not only showcased Sivaji Ganesan's talent, but also the Trust Heights’ apartments in Moulivakkam while not acting on other such buildings, brilliance of T.S. Balaiah and K. Sarangapani. The thavil players behind the scenes the High Court wondered if it was witnessing “shadow boxing” >> Page 7 were Thevur T.S. Santhanam and Thiruvidaimarudhur T.V. Venkatesan >> Page 6 As 35 lakes breach their banks, Chennai goes under again Complete breakdown of essential services; arterial roads become unmotorable; most bus routes remain inundated. Residents scramble for safety again On gloomy day, MRTS services a ray of hope

R. SRIKANTH AND The Mass Rapid Transit SUNITHA SEKAR System (MRTS) services from Chennai Beach to Vela- CHENNAI: The heavy rain that chery and train services to lashed the city and suburbs Thiruvallur and Gummidi- brought road traffic to a grind- poondi were operated, but ing halt but the operation of with delays. suburban train services on all As the MRTS is on an ele- sections for a good part of the vated stretch for a major por- day was a relief to residents. tion and the Velachery rail- However, train services be- way station was not flooded, tween Chennai Beach and trains could be operated nor- Tambaram were hit due to mally, said a Southern Rail- flooding of suburban plat- way official. Due to flooding forms at Tambaram. of railway tracks on the Tam- A senior official of the baram-Villupuram section, Southern Railway said train the Southern Railway can- Inundated roads saw heavy traffic logjams. A scene at Gandhi Irwin Road. (Right) Residents wade through water in Keelkattalai after the lake there breached — Photo: R. Ragu services between Chennai celled 31 long-distance trains Beach and Tambaram were which were to start from ALOYSIUS XAVIER LOPEZ city was completely battered, residents to 99 relief camps in and Rajiv Gandhi Salai. pakkam, said he had been liv- “It is the fourth time that terminated at Pallavaram be- Chennai Egmore. 12, long dis- AND SUNITHA SEKAR having received wounds that Kancheepuram district. But Most of the 471 bus route ing in the area for 40 years but water is entering our house tween 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. be- tance trains were diverted. would take a long time to heal. lakhs of residents are ma- roads in Chennai Corporation this was the first time his this monsoon. We have just cause platforms 1 to 4 were Several flights were de- CHENNAI: Continuous rain since Arterial roads became un- rooned in the southern sub- limits remained inundated. house was flooded with knee- locked it and moved upstairs. flooded at Tambaram station. layed by the heavy rain. the early hours of Tuesday led motorable, leaving thousands urbs. All roads are inundated, Seven subways including deep water. There is no respite for any of But, train services from Chen- Airport sources said from to the breaching of 35 major of commuters stranded and disrupting traffic. We are un- Pazhavanthangal, Thillai “Most of our valuables are us here,” she added. nai Beach to Chengalpattu early morning on Tuesday, lakes, mostly in the southern residents marooned. able to take food packets to Ganga Nagar, St.Thomas gone. We don’t know how to Many by-lanes in Madipak- and Thirumalpur proceeding most flights were affected. parts of the Chennai Metro- The lakes that breached in- marooned residents,” said an Mount, Meenambakkam, Ga- manage the situation here. kam, Hindu Colony and via Tambaram were operated Several flights from the air- politan Area, rendering thou- clude Kalavakkam, Thirukaz- official. nesapuram, Duraisamy and The Madipakkam lake is al- Lakshmi Nagar in Nanganal- with delayed arrival and de- port including those of Air In- sands of residents homeless. hukundram, Korapattu, Sho- Traffic on arterial roads Rangarajapuram were closed most full now,” he added. lur, Ram Nagar in Velachery parture, he added. dia, Jet Airways and IndiGo to There was also a complete nalur, Perungalathur, such as GST Road, Rajiv for traffic. In Ram Nagar North in Ma- and Sriram Nagar in Kotturpu- S. Murugan, a resident of various cities including Ko- breakdown of essential ser- Thenmelpakkam, Irumpuliy- Gandhi Salai, East Coast Several residents of south dipakkam, many residents left ram had severe waterlogging. Civil Aviation Colony, Nanga- chi, Colombo, Delhi, Pune, vices. Those who travelled to ur, Peerkankaranai, Keelkatta- Road, Outer Ring Road and Chennai who had just carried their homes to safer places as Radhika, a resident of Vela- nallur, said it took him more Bangalore, Hyderabad, Singa- work with great difficulty lai, Pallavaram, Pallikaranai Poonamalle High Road was out repairs in their flooded water was at least three feet chery, said her compound wall than two hours to reach the pore, Kolkata, Port Blair and were, on their way back home, and Mudichur. thrown out of gear. The traffic houses, found to their chagrin high, as early as afternoon. had collapsed this monsoon. Palavanthangal railway sta- Kuala Lumpur were delayed. stranded mid-way as most of “In addition to this, minor police diverted traffic on arte- that their houses were flood- Sandhya Shivakumar said “The rains have not stopped tion from Chengalpattu be- Also, those flights arriving the transport services went breaches have also occurred rial roads, advising motorists ed again. they sent her father-in-law to and we just don’t know how to cause the train was stopped at from Mumbai, Delhi, Abu into a tailspin. in most of the other waterbo- to avoid stretches such as R. Nagarajan, a resident of her relatives’ house as soon as handle the situation here,” she various points along the Dhabi, Pune and Hyderabad When the day ended, the dies. We have taken 23000 GST Road, East Coast Road New Kuberan Nagar in Madi- water entered her house. added. route. landed late. MTC services hit, traffic jams proliferate

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT Meanwhile, a senior MTC official claimed that many CHENNAI: Due to sluggish traffic buses were stuck in the jam. movement, commuters were “The vehicles were not stuck on the roads for hours moving freely in some parts on end. Since the MTC bus of the city like Saidapet. We services were affected, many thought of improving the ser- turned to train services to re- vices once the rain stopped. ach their respective destina- But it never happened,” said tions. However, train services an official. were also hit on certain sec- Residents were also left in tions. the lurch as cab services were The continuous rains left not available. “None of the many parts of the city inun- drivers were willing to take dated. risks and spoil their cars. Be- “I left Sardar Patel Road Residents not only waited for a long time to get buses but also sides, many autorickshaws around 2.30 p.m. and headed struggled while boarding — Photo: B. Jothi Ramalingam were also not plying as water for Anna Salai. But, by 4.15 entered the vehicles,” said C. p.m., I had reached only North Salai. I then took an MRTS police officer. Cyril, a resident of Santhome. Boag Road. The vehicles were service to reach my house in The entire traffic police A traffic police officer said moving very slowly,” said An- Mandavelli,” he said. force was on the road trying that had they ensured that uradha Raghuraman, a home- According to police offi- to ensure the free flow of ve- traffic was smooth on the ar- maker. Sudeesh, a marketing cers, often, water entered the hicles. “A holiday should have terial roads. “We diverted all executive, complained that engines and exhaust pipes of been declared for all govern- the buses through the Banga- bus services were affected. vehicles. “In Vadapalani, Sai- ment offices. This would have lore Highway and they went “I waited for nearly an hour dapet and T. Nagar, many mo- reduced the number of vehi- through Sriperumbudur,” for a bus on route 21 on Anna torists were stranded,” said a cles,” said a police source. said an officer.

Hospital services severely affected CINEMA ● ARTS ● EVENTS MUSIC DANCE DRAMA ramanyam (Vocal). Main Sp- by Nalli Chinnasami Chetty. R. Mohan, D.V. Venkatasu- Daily 7-00 a.m. to 10-00 p.m. onsor: APOLLO HOSPITALS. bramanian. 06-45 p.m. ‘Sar- along with Food Festival at Kalarasana in Association with AAA/Abai, TVK Cultural Associate Sponsor: GOLD vam Saikke Samarpanam’ by Kamarajar Arangam. Ph. WINNER. Co-Sponsors: SA- SP Group of Companies Students of Bharathanjali, Tickets: 88070 44521 www. 5-12-2015 Saturday 7 p.m. @ REGAMA CLASSICAL, RAM- Presents Concerts at Tapovan Concept & Choreography: lakshmansruthi.com Food Vani Mahal A/c (Obul Reddy CO GROUP, LARSEN & Hall – Chinmaya Heritage Anitha Guha. Donor Passes Festival: 99621 31559. Hall) Crazy Mohan + Madhu TOUBRO, CO-OPTEX, NALLI Centre, No. 2, 13th Avenue, available from 10-00 a.m. Balaji’s Brand New Comedy Maragatham SILKS, INDIAN OIL, INDIAN Harrington Road, Chetpet at Contact: 24983201. Tomor- “GOOGLE GADOTHGAJAN” Sankaranarayanan Trust and BANK, CHENNAI PETRO- 6-15 p.m. On December 12th row: 04-30 p.m. Gayathri For Tickets Ph: 9884152200. Brahma Gana Sabha LEUM, STATE BANK OF Dr. Bombay Jayashri Ram- Girish. 06-45 p.m. Sridevi INDIA, NAC JEWELLERS, nath on December 25th P. Nrithyalaya presents ‘Leela We regret to inform you that REPCO HOME FINANCE, Unnikrishnan. On 30th De- Taranga Margam.’ the Remembrance Day con- NEWRY PROPERTIES and cember Ranjani Gayathri. cert of Kallidaikurichi Dr. SYNDICATE BANK. Valet Tickets will be available from E.S. Sankaranarayana Iyer Parking Available. All are 7th December onwards from which is to take place today in Welcome. 5-00 p.m. to 7-00 p.m. For Sivakami Pethachi Auditori- Details contact 9176681915, um stands Postponed due to Brahma Gana Sabha 7299986700. inclement weather. Revised Today’s program postponed date will be announced later. due to rains. Sorry for the Narada Gana Sabha (Regd), inconvenience. Chennai-600018. Ph: 24993201 Pre Music Festival Concerts: Today Mini Hall, 4-30 p.m. Chaitrra Sairam, K.J. Dileep, Sumesh S. Narayanan. 6-30 p.m. Mahanadhi Dr. Shobana Vignesh, Dr. Usha Raja- gopalan, B. Ganapathira- man, Trichy K. Murali. All are welcome. Sarvani Sangeetha Sabha Ambulance drivers had a tough time negotiating many stretches — PHOTO: R. RAVINDRAN 28151417 Today Concert Postponed. ZUBEDA HAMID carrying on, extra measures have tough going. Inconvenience Regretted. been taken to ensure safety. At Ra- “While the traffic is not too bad Sri Dwaram Venkataswamy CHENNAI: With the rain showing no jiv Gandhi Government General as very few people are driving, the Naidu Memorial Trust (Regd.) signs of letting up, some hospitals Hospital, some staff members were condition of the roads is making it The 51st Gurupooja Anniver- on Tuesday allowed staff to leave allowed to leave early as rain bat- very difficult. We take 40 minutes sary Day Celebrations Sched- uled Today is Postponed Due early to get home safe, while at oth- tered the city throughout the day. to get to a destination that normally Kartik Fine Arts 24997788, 41st to Inclement Weather. Incon- ers, employees found it difficult to However, emergency services takes about 20,” one employee of Year Art Festival in association venience is regretted. come in to work as their houses were fully staffed, a senior official the 108 ambulance service said. In with Apollo Hospitals and The Mylapore Fine Arts Club were flooded. said. Some doctors at Global Hos- some parts such as Meenambak- Rajalakshmi Institutions (Regd.) Phone: 24997755 R. Marimuthu, a staff nurse at a pitals too, left a little early, as did kam however, traffic pile-ups con- Today 10-00 a.m. Narada Today Bharathanatyam 5-45 government hospital, was stranded non-essential staff at Apollo Hospi- tinued into the late afternoon lead- Gana Sabha Mini Hall Mando- p.m. Kum. R. SHRUTHI UM- in his home in East Tambaram, with tals. At Government Kilpauk Medi- ing to delays, another employee Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, lin Sisters (Sree Usha & Sree- AYAL (Disc. of Smt. Meenak- sha), Delhi Sairam, Nanga- water completely inundating the cal College, which is waterlogged, said. East Mada Street, Mylapore, shi Chitharanjan). 7-15 p.m. “Bhavan’s Cultural nallur Swaminathan. 12-15 Kum. SWATHI SAMBASI- premises. motors are operating to pump wa- The 108 ambulance service has Festival-2015” p.m. Madhu Iyer, N.S. Kama- VAM (Disc. of Sri M.V. Nara- “I just about managed to get out ter out, said dean Narayana Babu. been inundated with flood-related Chennai Cultural Academy kshi, Ammangudi Ramana- simhachari & Smt. Vasantha- Today 4-30 p.m.: Smt. San- calls and are collaborating in res- Trust (Regd.), Phone: rayanan. 2-00 p.m. Malavika lakshmi). All are welcome. with my certificates and I’m taking “We have buses for our nurses geetha Sivakumar (Vocal) Sundar, K.P. Nandhini, Ban- 7200074538/ 9840074538 M6 Events Zee Tamil Presents shelter at a nearby school,” he said. and have told our junior doctors cues along with other services, said with Sri R.K. Shriramkumar galore Ragunath Rajaram. MISCELLANEOUS His wife, also a nurse, managed that they can stay on in the hostels B. Prabhudoss, head, marketing (Violin), Sri K. Arun Prakash Fine Arts Festival (12th De- All are Welcome Main Hall: Lakshman Sruthyin “CHEN- to get to work at Egmore as she was if necessary. Food supplies and and hospital relations, GVK EMRI, (Mridangam) and Sri Ani- cember 2015 to 5th January 04-30 p.m. ‘Isai Peroli’ Tri- NAIYIL THIRUVAIYARU” Sringeri Bharathi Vidyashram, rudh Athreya (Kanjira) and 2016) at Ramarao Kala Man- chur Brothers: (Srikrishna Season-11 an eight day Mega T.Nagar, Ph: 24348964 on a morning shift when the rains clothes will be provided. For doc- which operates the service. at 6-45 p.m.: Sri O.S. Arun tap A/c, 111, Habibullah Road Mohan & Ramkumar Mo- Carnatic Music & Dance were not very heavy, but is now tors who are required to come to “We have allotted five additional (Bhajan Sandhya) with Mul- T.Nagar. Advance booking han), H.N. Bhaskar, Trichur Festival Dec. 18-25, 2015. Tomorrow Mahadevashtami. stuck at Pallavaram, unable to make the hospital in the night, we have ambulances for Tambaram for laivasal Sri G. Chandramouli for Season and Daily Donor 8-30 a.m. Mahanyasam/ Rud- (Violin), Thiruvaarur Sri Vai- Entry passes are available at hrabhishekam; 11-30 a.m.: it home as the trains have stopped, arranged for them to use our ambu- flood rescues. Pregnant women are dyanathan (Mridangam), Sri the venue daily from 10 a.m. Mahadeepharadhanai, Maha- he said. “I don’t know how she is lances,” said N. Sathyabhama, di- our priority and we have shifted S. Krishnan (Harmonium), to 8 p.m. 13th Dec Sunday pradasam. 5-12-2015, 6 p.m.: going to come back,” he added. rector of medical services at Apollo many of them. We have received at Sri Kirankumar (Tabla) and 7-00 p.m. Dr. K.J. Jesudas. Ayyappan Bajans by Kovai While most hospitals have been Hospitals. least 1,000 additional calls over and Sri A. Selvam (Thalam). To- For full details see Yester- Jayarama Bagavathar & Par- morrow: 3rd: 4-30 p.m.: Smt. day’s The Hindu Music Sup- ty; 6-12-2015, 8-30 a.m.: Sas- functioning normally with both Ambulance drivers have been hit above our usual calls on Tuesday,” K. Gayatri (Vocal) and at 6-45 plement. Credit/ Debit card tha Preethi (Ayyappan outpatient and inpatient services hard as the damaged roads made he said. p.m.: Dr. Vijayalakshmy Sub- facilities available. Powered Pooja). All are Welcome.

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