2005 comes to an end with an unprecedented rainfall in the South and with the naming of the tropical storms in South Asia. With more than 200 cms of rain against the average of 70 cms during the monsoon season, (Oct 1- Dec 15) Chennaiites are wet and weary. Heavy downpour on a single night (more than 40 cms) inundated several parts of the city during the last week in October. While before the city could come back to normalcy 6 tropical storms have brought copious rainfall to Chennai and suburbs between October and December. Chief Minister of Chennai, J. Jayalalitha has called this an unprecedented monsoon. Meteorological department says it has not witnessed such a downpour in the past hundred years.
Chennai looks like a monsoon forest, and a swamp. Lower lying areas like Perambur, Madipakkam, Naganallur, Perunguri have become islands. Waterways, canals, lakes and reservoirs in and around the city are in spate and filled to the brim. 15 months water supply has been let into the ocean to prevent breach of lakes and reservoirs. City schools and colleges have closed more than 10 days due to the inclement weather.
It appears as though you are looking at the world through green glass, everything around looks green. Lichens and mosses have started to grow on the compound walls and sidewalks due to incessant rainfalls and lack of sunshine. Raincoats, umbrellas, and wet clothes have become the dress code for the season. Clothes line inside the house making it difficult to breath, bring a musty smell in the house. From pediatrics to geriatrics all of them lined up in front of the docs clinics to get treated for cold, fever and other monsoon related ailments.
Coloroon, Cauvery, and Veernam all in spate and water was let out from Mettur Dam 6 times in the past 3 months. We’ve never heard of reservoirs continuously filling up to the brim and billions of gallons of fresh water let into the ocean. While the State Government has been highly reactive in supplying relief materials, it has also been very proactive in evacuating people living in the low lying areas. The Government definitely needs a pat on the back (POB) for efficiently managing 6 tropical storms without much huff. More than monsoon related deaths, we had seen unheard deaths due to stampede at the relief centers. Travel in the city has become a nightmare with bad or no roads and traffic back-ups.
Music festival goes on as usual in Chennai. Parade of artiste and listeners from all over the World are thronging the sabhas to catch a glimpse of the best talent in music, dance and theatre. It rains music in the city now.
Chief Minister of the State has mellowed down this year. Her rough razor sharp edges seem well rounded and she appears serviceable. She gets into a conference call with her officials all over the State in the evening to get an update on the relief measure and she tours flood devastated areas to comfort and console. We are not sure if this is a sign of maturity or the sign of impending elections? Instead of working together with the State Government in serving people, opposition parties looking for an opportunity for Government to flaw, slings abuses at the cost of the common man. Somethings just never change……
