Chennai identifies 219 flood-prone areas, deploys 1,320 pumps ahead of monsoon

The Chennai Corporation has identified 219 flood-prone locations across the city, including areas along ECR and OMR, based on flooding patterns from 2015, 2021 and 2023. Corporation Commissioner G S Sameeran said vulnerable sites include low-lying areas and metro rail construction zones. Metro excavation areas will be used as temporary underground sumps to release accumulated rainwater gradually instead of immediately pumping it into drains.

Large institutions including IIT Madras, Anna University and IT campuses along OMR have been instructed to stagger rainwater discharge through pumps and sumps. The corporation has arranged 1,320 motor pumps at vulnerable locations, along with 36 inflatable boats and 36 fiberglass boats. A total of 215 relief centres have been readied and nearly 3,500 volunteers registered for flood assistance.

Desilting work on 1,102 km of the city's 1,683 km storm water drain network has been completed. Over 80% of works on 44 canals across Chennai are finished. The commissioner cited El Niño conditions and potential backflow into Adyar estuary drains as key concerns requiring precautionary measures.