&imwidth=800&imheight=600&format=webp&quality=medium "Diwali in Chennai disrupted by torrential rain; roads and airport flooded | WATCH")
Chennai woke up to a torrential downpour on Monday (October 21), on the day of Diwali, leading to widespread disruptions across the city. Continuous rainfall over the past two days caused significant waterlogging, creating travel chaos and affecting daily routines. Social media footage shows submerged streets and flooded runways at Chennai International Airport. Areas particularly impacted include Velachery, Medavakkam, Pallikaranai, and Neelankarai, located along the East Coast Road (ECR).
The relentless rainfall has made key roads nearly impassable, with traffic crawling and residents of low-lying neighborhoods experiencing knee-deep water in some areas. Overflowing drains have added to the inconvenience, while commuters struggle to navigate the flooded streets. Authorities have cautioned the public, with intermittent showers expected to persist throughout the day. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast moderate rain with thunderstorms for Chennai and nearby districts, including Chengalpattu, Cuddalore, Thanjavur, and Puducherry. Coastal Tamil Nadu will continue to face rainfall until at least October 22.
Train services suspended in Nilgiris
In the Nilgiris, train services on the Nilgiri Mountain Railway (NMR) were suspended after landslides blocked tracks between Kallar and Coonoor. Earth slips and fallen trees halted three trains, including the Mettupalayam–Udagamandalam route.
Watch the video here
Trending Stories
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
National Handloom Day 2026: From Alia Bhatt to Samantha Ruth Prabhu; Actresses who celebrated India's textile heritage as brides
)
The Royals enter the Doctor Who universe: King Charles and Queen Camilla beam into Commonwealth Games in TARDIS
)
Unitree Robotics targets $9 billion valuation in landmark IPO backed by DeepSeek and Tencent
)
India names 27 sites in Arunachal Pradesh
)
Bharat Bhhagya Viddhaata OTT: When will Kangana Ranaut's film stream online?
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
How many soldiers operate one S-400 battery?
)
Shakib Al Hasan ready to return to Bangladesh—under one condition
)
‘Fake news’: MEA rejects report claiming India sought defence pact with Israel after Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey deal
)
Rockstar to unveil GTA 6 extended look ahead of November launch
)
Russia forms Ukrainian Volunteer Spetsnaz Brigade to fight Ukraine
)
Drug-resistant fungus that hides in hair and enters bloodstream reported in 23 US states
)
Technology transfer deal boosts India's defence manufacturing ambitions
)
Border row erupts in Europe after Ceuta crossings, Spain imposes border controls on Italy
)
Morale plummets on USS Abraham Lincoln: Are US sailors reaching a breaking point? | GRAVITAS
)
'Security can't be bought with Pakistan, Turkey deal': Iran tells Saudi Arabia
)
Baba Vanga's 2026 prophecy: 2 predictions 'already came true', 3 terrifying ones remain. Details inside
)
Colombia’s new president Abelardo de la Espriella vows to ‘defeat narco-terrorists’, signals hardline shift
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
New Friday OTT releases (August 7, 2026): Operation Safed Sagar, Vadhandhi, Main Vaapis Aaunga- 6 movies and TV shows on Netflix, Prime Video and more
)
Squadron Leader Bhawana Kanth scripts history as Indian Air Force gets its first woman ‘Top Gun’ pilot
)
RSS says Gen Z protests reflect genuine distress
)
Trump says Iranian school bombing photos could be AI-generated - 'I don’t think...'
)
IAF officer held for sharing sensitive information in 'honey trap' case, booked under Official Secrets Act
)
Stray Kids under scrutiny? Fans react to Grammy submission silence after BTS boycott
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Why the Su-30MKI doesn't need external fuel tanks to fly vast distances
)
Jugal Hansraj reunites with Shekhar Kapur after 40 years for Masoom: The Next Generation
)
New speed limits, automatic challans: Big traffic change coming to Delhi-Meerut Expressway. All you need to know
)
India officially names 27 places in Arunachal to counter China's renaming claims
)
Trump calls White House ballroom ruling a 'national disgrace' as court says Congress approval needed
)
US sanctions Iran’s crypto network after Strait of Hormuz attacks, offers $15m bounty for intel on IRGC finance
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Why the Su-30MKI is one of the heaviest fighters ever built
)
Uttarakhand young innovator builds India's own flying vehicle, conducts first test flight: WATCH
)
Chilling video shows students take cover as teen opens fire at Thai school
)
Reese Witherspoon's father hospitalised after poolside incident in Nashville: Report
Coastal areas facing flooding
The heavy rain has particularly affected coastal and delta districts like Nagapattinam, Cuddalore, and Ramanathapuram since Sunday. Despite the weather, local markets in Thoothukudi remained operational, although schools were closed due to flooding. In Cuddalore, authorities have warned fishermen to avoid venturing into the sea as strong waves and rough weather conditions persist. Boats and other vessels are instructed to stay docked until further notice.
Chief Minister MK Stalin reviewed the situation and assured that steps had been taken to relocate vulnerable residents from low-lying coastal areas. Though there have been no significant damages so far, he stressed the need for caution as more rainfall is expected on October 21 and 22. Relief camps have been set up, and most of the harvested paddy has been safely stored.
In response to the heavy rainfall, the Greater Chennai Corporation has expanded its flood preparedness measures, increasing the number of relief centers across the city. The IMD has also reported that a low-pressure area forming over the southeast Bay of Bengal is expected to strengthen into a deep depression, bringing more rain to the coastal regions of Tamil Nadu.
