CHENNAI: Electric Multiple Unit (EMU) train coaches are catering to an unusual crowd. For the rain-ravaged in Saidapet, they are serving as temporary shelters.
Some 50 people hailing from areas near Adyar river have moved to EMUs stationed at Saidapet railway station, after their houses were either marooned or washed away with all the belongings and rendering them homeless.
“We came on our own to the train compartments, as knee deep water has surrounded relief centres,” Ali, a resident of Godhamedu in Saidapet, said adding that they could not get accommodation elsewhere.
While some women were found making makeshift cradles with their sarees for their toddlers inside the coaches, men were occupying the seats waiting for the floods to recede. “All could not get food at the station,” said another rain affected person. “Some good souls distributed Sambar rice to us, but it was confined to the initial few coaches,” he said claiming that others were struggling to get food.
A few were also found cooking on the platforms.
Two trains were stopped midway at Saidapet railway station as heavy rains waterlogged the track on Chennai Beach - Tambaram section in the last three days.
Meanwhile, with the three subways in the area submerged, the Foot Over Bridge (FOB) alone provides connectivity to Anna Salai. Southern Railway has suspended services on this section with certain Electric Multiple Units halted in the intervening stations.