CHENNAI: Every monsoon, water carves a path, and rivulets return gushingly to their basins. While topography may have changed and areas are rendered unrecognisable — encroached and converted to buildings, companies, and roads — waterbodies remember, as the popular adage goes. Just as water harbours memory, the citizens of Chennai carry memories intertwined with the deluge.
From 2015 floods to cyclone Michaung in 2023 — each year, rains and storms arrive with warnings, the promise of heavy downpours, and renewed fears. As vulnerable parts of cities are swallowed, memories of losing loved ones, homes, and important documents surface. As X user @iamdatemike put it, “Everyone is scarred and scared…Even if it drizzles, my parents and grandparents get scared. We will have to live like this for the foreseeable future.”
On Sunday, the Met Department issued a red alert predicting heavy rain from October 15 to 17. A sleepless night, a day of charging electronics, buying candles, and persistent checking of weather updates ensued. As downpours hit the city on Monday and Tuesday, commuters braved waterlogged streets, waded through hip-level water, and families moved to relief centres.
According to an article in The New Indian Express, in the 24 hours on October 15, Tamil Nadu received an average rainfall of 2,241 cm across, while Chennai received 6.5 cm. Videos and news of hanging live wires, open manholes, helplines, and volunteer alerts filled social media platforms.
With fresh memories of annual inundation, the panic seeped into the streets and reached grocery stores with doomsday planning. All shops shared a deserted look — empty racks of bread and eggs, blackened vegetables, and a rush for the last packet of milk.
In Choolaimedu, Anna Nagar, and Aminjikarai, CE found some grocery shops closed, others with empty racks, and some with long queues. According to a shopkeeper in Collectorate Colony, the prices of vegetables rose amid high demand, with a kilo of tomato costing nearly Rs 120 to Rs 140. Shops across the city sported candles, umbrellas, and raincoats at the entrance.
It was like a zombie apocalypse, says Sreenivas, a manager at Amazon. “Areas like Villivakkam, Korattur, and Ambattur had crazy scenes yesterday (Monday). People were grabbing whatever was there in the shops and I could see anxious people riding two-wheelers without even minding other people, chasing shops.”
In search of vegetables, Praveen Inbarajan recounts a five-hour round trip across south Chennai. From the jam-packed Kovai Pazhamudhir Cholai in Thiruvanmiyur, the empty sister branch in ECR, and the sparsely stocked Amma Naana, to nameless kadais, he visited 12 shops, with no success. “Veggies, Maggi, bread, and eggs were the most sought out for. People went for veggies with long shelf life and wouldn’t need refrigeration in case of power outage,” he says.
The Puzhuthivakkam resident chalks the panic buying to memories from previous years. “Mistakes that made them suffer during past floodings, cruel media tactics to sensationalise the news about such weather forecasts. (I’ve) also perceived the helplessness people felt, waiting for help to arrive during last year and how the drainage systems and essentials supplies were (lacking),” says the IT employee.
Meanwhile, Besant Nagar-based Kevin Casto says, “Bread wasn’t available in my locality since Monday evening. I was told the supply itself has been stopped.” He adds people found it hard to get water cans during the rain.
After hearing the forecast, Varsha Panjabi visited seven shops in Anna Nagar for milk packets. “At the eighth shop, (they) sensibly insisted on only one packet of milk per family,” she notes.
Meanwhile, on delivery apps like Zepto, Swiggy, Zomato, and Blinkit, essential goods were sold out. Amid the showers, Blinkit delivery personnel Ganesan braved the waterlogging in areas like Purasaiwakkam, and surrounding regions to deliver some essential goods. “In one hour alone, I have delivered six packages. I joined last year and I haven’t seen these many numbers of orders in such a short time,” says the 21-year-old.
On Tuesday, there were over 2,000 orders from the Blinkit warehouse in Aminjikarai alone, compared to the usual 1,800 a day, says Suman P, the manager of the unit.
Praveen says “The government should anticipate panic buying since people’s survival instinct kicks in at times like these. They should activate the small van veggies vendors that used to come to our streets during the Covid lockdown. This would put people at ease about the availability of essentials. They should include the local shops and major vendors in anticipating and planning for such events.”
Citing the lack of effective use of technology, Sreenivas urges the government to mark the diversions on the map and highlight heavily flooded areas. As the city received respite and prediction of the storm moving past Tamil Nadu on Wednesday, citizens hope for better planning, and infrastructure before the next phase of rains.
Sudha Ramalingam, advocate and human rights activist, Choolaimedu
This time, I didn’t believe in hoarding anything. Every year, during the monsoon, the government and local bodies talk about preparedness, but it always feels like a knee-jerk reaction to the current year’s flooding. There’s no long-term, consistent planning to avoid future floods. We need proper identification of issues, detailed planning, and creation of infrastructure for permanent solutions. Living in Anna Nagar, I’ve rarely seen my MP, MLA, or Municipal Councillor, except when they’re canvassing for votes. To prevent flooding during heavy rains, we need to restore lakes and waterbodies, provide safe housing, and build proper drainage systems. These are the long-term solutions that will make a real difference.
Imman Vijay, rapper, Mylapore, near Ambedkar Bridge
People living behind the canals are always the hardest hit. However, this time, things weren’t as bad. Last year, we stayed at the community hall for three days, but most of our appliances — beds, fridge, and others — were destroyed by the flooding. Fortunately, now as I have shifted houses and since we live on the first floor, we didn’t face as many issues.
The area which I live in now has government officials also, so there won’t be any powercut issues. The measures depend on the area and people. The price of essentials skyrocketed during the rains. With only a few shops open, we made sure to stock up early. The government needs to step up the efforts. Staying in community halls isn’t a long-term solution.
Sruthi Lakshmi, company secretary intern at EY, Madipakkam
My family and I moved to Madipakkam last year and were unaware of the situation when it rains. We faced water stagnation, WiFi disruption and powercuts for three days. From lack of drinking water to groceries, we found it difficult to go on with our everyday lives.
This time, we managed to keep candles handy, charge powerbanks, and other devices whenever power was available, bought water cans, stocked up groceries for five days and milk for the next two days. I also tried to buy sand sacks to avoid water seepage in my house. Few of our neighbours helped us to park our vehicles in a high raised building. We are well prepared for the rains and the monsoon, but only time will prove us right or wrong.
Lakshmi, Kannagi Nagar
Kannagi Nagar is an area that usually gets inundated during the monsoon and after Monday, there is already hip-level water. My husband is a painter and as there’s a red alert, he hasn’t been called to work, leading to loss of daily wages. It’ll be difficult if this rain continues.
The shops are closed on the main road, and it is difficult to get any basic essentials. The prices have shot up as well. I live on the ground floor and we are unsure when the water will drain and if the showers continue, the water will enter the house. It feels like a helpless situation.*name changed
Inputs from Archita Raghu, Diya Maria George and Sonu M Kothari