Chennai receives extremely heavy rainfall on October 17, many areas inundated

Heavy northeast monsoon rain lashed several parts of Chennai through the night, leaving roads waterlogged and disrupting normal life. | Photo Credit: J. Johan Sathyadas Chennai received extremely heavy rainfall in several areas, including Parry’s Corner in the Central Business District of George Town, the northern areas of Ennore, and southern neighbourhoods such as Meenambakkam, on Saturday (October 17, 2026).Chennai Corporation recorded an average rainfall of over 105 mm in the last 24 hours ending at 6 a.m. on Sunday (October 18, 2026), including very heavy rainfall in six localities: Tiruvottiyur, Kathivakkam, Ennore, Parrys, Chennai Central, and Meenambakkam.Bus routes and interior roads of many zones were inundated on Saturday (October 17, 2026), as the city received heavy rainfall after the onset of the Northeast Monsoon.Traffic moved at a snail’s pace on arterial roads such as Anna Salai, with traditionally flooding spots covered in sheets of water. Stretches including G N Road, leading to T. Nagar from Anna Salai, were inundated, and a number of vehicles were stranded on the roads as the water levels rose.Besant Nagar Beach was flooded, and ankle-deep waters were reported in key areas of Besant Nagar. In Madipakkam, water levels rose in Kuberan Nagar Extension, Govindasamy Nagar, LIC Nagar, and Sadasivam Nagar.Heavy waterlogging was reported at Tiruvottiyur Thiyagaraya Temple, where a pandal collapsed but no injuries occurred. Velachery Main Road and many surrounding streets, including areas near the Guru Nanak College Signal, were flooded. Heavy rain lashed Chennai on Saturday night, leaving several areas flooded early in the morning, seen at Stephenson road, Perambur, Ganesapuram railway Subway, and Vyasarpadi. | Photo Credit: B. Jothi Ramalingam Traffic congestion worsened in Anna Nagar on Saturday evening (October 17, 2026), with vehicles caught in slow-moving traffic. Commuters had to wait for at least 15 minutes to get through the congested stretches, leading to delays during the evening rush hour.Following complaints from residents in stretches such as Khader Nawaz Khan Road, GCC officials visited the locality to clear blocks in the drain. GCC officials removed silt catch blockage at Kathipara Service Road. In Chennai Corporation, Zone 6, Division 77, Syendams road near Haj committe, Corporation workers cleared water stagnation.According to data shared by Chennai Corporation ICCC, Parrys received the highest amount of rainfall of 363 mm, while areas such as Alandur, Adyar, Raja Annamalaipuram and Valasaravakkam received heavy rainfall. A total of 18 locations received heavy rainfall ranging from 64.5 mm to 115.5 mm, while 17 locations received very heavy rainfall ranging from 115.6 mm to 204.4 mm in the city.Heavy water stagnation was reported in areas around SIET College in Teynampet, including Thiruvalluvar Salai and Seethammal Colony, despite the recent construction of stormwater drains that connect these areas to the drainage network leading toward Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda College in Mylapore. Published - October 18, 2026 12:21 pm IST