Chennai municipal body buys 36 boats as 'precautionary measure' ahead of monsoon. See pics

One of the boats distributed between Zones 3 and 14. (Image credit: @chennaicorp/X)

The Greater Chennai Corporation has bought 36 boats as a precautionary measure amid heavy rainfall even as the city gears up for the North East monsoon. In a post on X, the governing body wrote that the boats were distributed between Zone 3 and zone 14. One boat was given to Madhavaram zone and Perungudi zone received two boats on Thursday.

According to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) the northeast monsoon is expected to set in by the third week of October and is likely to bring more rainfall than usual.

Dear #Chennaiites,#GCC has purchased 36 boats as a precautionary measure in case of heavy rainfall during the monsoon season. Below are pictures of the boats distributed in Zone 3 &14. One boat to Zone 3 and two boats to Zone 14.#ChennaiCorporation#HereToServe#NalamiguChennai pic.twitter.com/8apDlfk8eG
Greater Chennai Corporation (@chennaicorp) October 2, 2024

Even the southwest monsoon brought more than normal rainfall. Tamil Nadu and Puducherry received 39 cm of rainfall -- 18 percent more than normal, Times of India reported. "Seventeen districts, including Tirunelveli, recorded higher rainfall while 16 districts recorded normal rainfall," said S Balachandran, deputy director general of meteorology, Regional Meteorological Centre of Chennai.

Meanwhile, the Chennai government has appointed 15 IAS officers to oversee monsoon preparedness in each zone of the corporation.

On December 2023, due to Cyclone Michaung, the city received close to 400 mm of average rainfall for two days -- from 8.30 am on December 4 to 8.30 am on December 5. The city faced widespread flooding and waterlogging during and after the rain.

The boats are out in #Perungudi #cyclone pic.twitter.com/4ozi49CZ0H Karthik Lakshmanan (@lk_karthik) December 4, 2023

The situation prompted volunteer groups and residents to get their boats out. Videos of people using boats to commute and to rescue residents from low-lying areas have been doing rounds on social media.

(With inputs from agencies)