Chennai Chaos: 'Death Trap' Roads Exposed as Monsoon Batters City, Govt Claims Questioned

India Today

This special report from India Today covers the impact of heavy northeast monsoon rains across Tamil Nadu, leading to severe waterlogging in Chennai. Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin has been inspecting infrastructure works, but our ground reports reveal a grim reality of official unpreparedness. A reporter on the scene states, 'this spot is not even 300 meters away from the chief minister's residence'. The bulletin highlights the stark contrast between government claims of readiness and the hazardous conditions on the ground, with reality checks in Medavakkam and Pallikaranai showing roads riddled with potholes, described by residents as 'death traps' that have existed for years. The Indian Meteorological Department has issued further warnings for heavy rainfall in the state.

Transcript

00:00Down south, this is from Tamil Nadu, weather updates that we are bringing to you.

00:05It is a little alarming, the situation there at this point.

00:09Heavy rains last in Chennai and several parts of Tamil Nadu on Tuesday.

00:13The Indian Meteorological Department has issued warnings for heavy rainfall in isolated areas.

00:18Now while most parts of the state, let us tell you, receive less than 50 mm of rain,

00:23it is Ramanathapuram, which recorded 149 mm,

00:28Nagapattinam at 90 mm and parts of Chennai at 63.5 mm.

00:34Now a holiday has been declared for schools and colleges in Chengalpattu, Karalor and Chennai.

00:41The subway at Tamburam Sanatorium Station was also flooded,

00:46with commuters seen wading through sewage-laden water.

00:49Deputy Chief Minister Udenadi Stalin inspected ongoing infrastructure development

00:54and renovation works in South Chennai,

00:57aimed at improving waterways and helping the floodwater flow into the sea during the monsoon season.

01:03Let us quickly take a look at some reactions.

01:07But before that, let us just tell you that these are the conditions that we bring to you

01:14from different parts of Tamil Nadu at this point.

01:18While there were efforts that were made by the state government as they have said in their own statements,

01:25the situation on the ground still seems to be like this,

01:29where we see streets laden with potholes right ahead of the monsoon season setting in.

01:35It's the northeastern monsoon that's set in Tamil Nadu at this point.

01:40Pramod Madhav joins me on the broadcast to bring us a pulse of the ground at this point.

01:44Pramod, very good morning to you.

01:46Help us understand where you are at currently and also the situation there.

01:52The alert that had come in from IMD had said that rains will continue to lash across parts of Chennai

01:59and Tamil Nadu for that matter.

02:01Let's understand what exactly is the situation now.

02:08We are at the one of the important roads called as Anna Saleh.

02:11And yesterday and the day before yesterday, Chennai has faced good amount of rainfall.

02:15In fact, like in the state of Tamil Nadu,

02:17Kadalur has received maximum amount of rainfall that is 174 millimetres.

02:21Then it is Pudhichari Unitarianity, 147 millimetres.

02:24And when it comes to Tamil Nadu, Chennai in particular, 84 millimetres at Nungkambakam alone.

02:28And what we could see in the morning is that, of course, water has drained in many locations.

02:32However, there are sporadic spots like this.

02:34This is one of the important roads, Anna Saleh.

02:36And the interesting fact is that, like, you know,

02:38work is happening of bridge construction or metro in various areas.

02:42So there are like such kind of like localised areas there are,

02:44because of bad roads and such, water stagnation is also visible.

02:48Now, authorities claim that action is being taken and all these are being sorted out.

02:52Yesterday, even also the Deputy Chief Minister said that the Chief Minister held meetings

02:56along with the Chief Secretary and also through video conferencing at Delta districts

03:01where holiday has been declared for today, including Trichy, Tanjavur, Perambulur and spots.

03:05But however, the important aspect here is that, like, there are in the city alone,

03:09there are such spots which are becoming red zones,

03:12because of such bad notes under the arterial roads,

03:15it's going to actually choke the traffic as well.

03:17In fact, this is a spot where you could see now,

03:19the traffic vehicles are like moving very slowly at this spot.

03:22But the important aspect is that this spot is not even 300 metres away from the Chief Minister's residence.

03:28So there are such areas where such kind of issues are there,

03:31which authorities will have to deal.

03:32But this is the first wave of the rains from the monsoon,

03:37and it is expected to actually get a little worse tomorrow and day after,

03:42considering that there is a possibility of another low pressure to also be formed.

03:46So authorities on one side claim that all measures have been taken,

03:49but it has to be constantly monitored and made sure that on the ground everything has been taken care of, Shreya.

03:55Right. Pramod, let's understand one thing.

03:57We've been consistently seeing statements coming in from the government with regards to how

04:01enough action and measures have already been taken to ensure that the situation doesn't turn from bad to worse.

04:09But most of the visuals that we see from not just different parts of Tamil Nadu,

04:14but from Chennai itself, as you're saying, this particular street is very close to the Chief Minister's residence.

04:20Why was action not taken to, in fact, ensure that roads aren't in this condition,

04:26given that we know that this is the monsoon season in Tamil Nadu?

04:30Well, it's an important aspect because, like, almost, like,

04:36there is another spot that also the Chief Minister constantly takes in that spot also.

04:41Until almost a week ago, the roads were fine.

04:43But as we speak, there is a major work that is happening over there for a bridge.

04:47And because of that, this road has been shrunk.

04:50And what we see right now is that, just like you mentioned,

04:52there is an aspect where authorities are supposed to constantly monitor this.

04:56This kind of, this patchwork is, this issue has been consistent for nearly almost two weeks or such.

05:02So, they could have taken measures earlier.

05:04They could have laid the roads at night to make sure,

05:06knowing that this road is going to become an issue in the future,

05:09because more and more rain as it comes,

05:11you could see that M-sand has been used to actually cover,

05:14but that is not how it's going to work.

05:15So, these kind of issues are the ones that they have to actually have planned earlier,

05:19made sure that there are, like, red spots, which the public itself know.

05:22All they had to do is, like, you know, get the information through either an X app or something,

05:27and they could have immediately done work on it.

05:29But unfortunately, it looks like while the Deputy Chief Minister says,

05:32like, major efforts and works have been done,

05:34such localised issues, which actually turned huge in the end of the monsoon,

05:39those have been not taken care of.

05:40And that is being reflected at this spot, Shreya.

05:43Right, Ramon.

05:44Thank you for bringing us those details from the ground.

05:47And viewers, we are consistently keeping a check of how things are panning out

05:51in different parts of Tamil Nadu, not just Chennai.

05:55And as we speak of Chennai specifically,

05:59let us take you through the harsh reality of Chennai's infrastructure

06:03as the monsoon approaches.

06:05And in fact, not approaches now, but it's already here.

06:08Portholes in Medavakkam acting as death traps,

06:11risking residents' lives and neglected roads in Pallikarnai,

06:17despite being an IT hub.

06:19Now, officials have claimed readiness for the rains,

06:22but on the ground, residents face broken roads and persistent dangers,

06:27as our colleague was also bringing you reports of.

06:30Our reality check brings these stark contradictions

06:33to light as Chennai races for monsoon mayhem.

06:41This is the state of affairs in Chennai.

06:55This is the state of preparedness for the monsoon.

07:02As part one of our reality check,

07:05we visited Medavakkam in Chennai,

07:07where potholes pose as death traps

07:09and residents risk their lives every day

07:12just to make it home.

07:16I'm just going to drive through and show you how difficult it is.

07:18This entire stretch of road is riddled with huge potholes.

07:23This is how difficult it is for me to drive.

07:25I can feel my vehicles shaking as I drive.

07:28Just imagine the safety of citizens

07:30that has been jeopardized

07:31by the Chennai's civic administration.

07:34This is nothing but occur,

07:36lack of apathy and disregard

07:38for the citizens of Chennai.

07:40In fact, I just had a word

07:42with one of those citizens

07:43who are residing in this road

07:44and they told me that

07:46this particular patch of road

07:47has been like this

07:48for the last many, many years.

07:50Has this been the road's condition for many years?

07:52Very, very worst year.

07:53Last four, five years,

07:55this is the very worst road.

07:57It's not the one bit only.

07:59Otherwise, all road is good.

08:01This one bit is very worst.

08:02Has the area's authority come here

08:05ever to inspect the road?

08:06Have you ever told us?

08:08Come and see, come and see.

08:09And some little bit in the building,

08:12rashes, we can clear this.

08:13After that, it will be again the real problem.

08:17Residents say their pleas for better infra

08:20have fallen on deaf ears.

08:21And they're not the only ones.

08:23Our next stop is Pallikarnai,

08:30the IT hub of the city

08:31where we decided to conduct a reality check

08:34after multiple requests

08:35from residents on social media.

08:37And here's what we found.

08:39We're reporting from Pallikarnai,

08:44which connects Velichiri to Medawakam.

08:47This is one of the most popular

08:48Chennai's IT hubs,

08:50the IT corridor.

08:51And you can see the kind of roads

08:53that we're talking about.

08:55It's half cobblestones,

08:56half tar roads.

08:57In fact, the civic anger

08:58among the people is palpable.

09:00After wasting months of sunny days,

09:03it is now too late

09:05for the government to do any fixes

09:07as the rainy season has finally arrived.

09:12Tall claims have been made by the government

09:14that they are fully prepared for the monsoon.

09:17But is this really their sense of preparedness,

09:20of broken roads

09:21and death traps for residents?

09:23Anagar Keshav in Chennai for India Today.

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