Cyclone Michaung: Unaddressed Missing Links in Storm-Water Drains Worsen Flooding Woes in Chennai

The failure to rectify all “missing links” in storm-water drains, identified under a World Bank-funded project, is being attributed to the exacerbated flooding in various parts of Chennai following Cyclone Michaung. The project, covering zones like Adyar, Kodambakkam, Teynampet, and others, aimed to address the missing links across 144 roads and 44 km of drains.

However, elected representatives and residents noted flooding in many roads included in the project, such as Cathedral Road and Dr. Radhakrishnan Salai. Concerns have been raised about the vulnerability of the city to flooding, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive audit of storm-water drains and continuous assessment for effective disaster management.