CHENNAI: The massive rescue operations in the residential areas of West Tambaram, flooded following release of water from Chembarambakkam lake, was called off after discharge from the lake was reduced and water began receding from the area on Wednesday.
The army, air force and navy returned to their camps as water had drained, while police and fire service personnel are still posted on duty. The areas inundated by the floods included Mookambigai Nagar, Krishna Nagar, Annai Anjugam Nagar, Samathuva Periyar Nagar, CTO Colony, Mudichur and Varadharajapuram.
The residents returned to their homes to find refrigerators, televisions, air conditioners, cars and two wheelers damaged. Most of the articles could be thrown as scrap and people are keen to sell the articles in parts or in full. Despite suffering heavy losses due to the floods, people were visibly happy to see the receding floods and return to their homes. They were seen cleaning the houses and washign the vessels and furniture, eager to resume their normal lives. However, some of them expressed apprehension over further rains as the rainy Tamil month of Karthigai has just began.
The floods had receded since there was no further rain from Tuesday. But, fishing boats, police and fire service personnel had not left the area. Officials are taking steps to drain the water fully. Some of the houses near the Adyar river are still marooned.
On Monday and Tuesday, the ground floor in most of the houses were submerged and the stranded residents were airlifted. The rescue works were being carried out by army, navy, air force, coast guard, fire service personnel and National Disaster Response Force using 80 boats. Thousands of people were rescued using light helicopters and rubber boats. The air force helicopters had dropped food, water and other essentials on house terraces where people were left stranded.
According to officials camping in the area, water could be totally drained if there are no further rains and normalcy could be restored in one or two days. There are about 50,000 houses in the area, which lies between the Adyar river and the elevated corridor from Perungalathur to Porur.