Cyclone Murasu: Damaged roads remain a concern after rainwater recedes in Chennai

As cyclone Murasu brought overnight rains lashing the city from Sunday (November 1, 2026) night, rainwater stagnation reported in several parts of Chennai had receded by 11 a.m. on Monday. However, damaged roads, potholes and stretches left uneven after stormwater drain and utility works continued to trouble residents and councillors of Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC). they urged the civic body to rectify problems before next rains due to Northeast monsoon hit the city in December.

According to Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC) of GCC, Chennai recorded an average rainfall of 76.07 mm in the 24 hours ending at 6 a.m. on November 2, according to data from the Greater Chennai Corporation’s Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC). Of the monitoring stations, 28 recorded heavy rain and five recorded very heavy rain. Parrys recorded the highest rainfall at 149.2 mm, followed by New Manali Town at 141.6 mm.

Rainfall intensity eased considerably on November 2. The city recorded an average of 2.08 mm between 6 a.m. and 2 p.m. During this eight-hour period, 47 stations recorded very light rain and 16 recorded light rain. Ennore recorded the highest rainfall at 5.6 mm.

Ambedkar Valavan aka Kumarasamy, VCK party councillor of Purasaiwalkam, said there was no water stagnation in his ward, including Thideer Nagar and Periyar Nagar. He said earlier works had addressed the waterlogging problems reported in the area. However, he flagged the poor condition of several roads, including Rettamalai Srinivasan Salai and Cooks Road, from Otteri Bridge towards Binny Mills, where potholes and uneven surfaces remained.

Following the rains from Cyclone Murasu, stagnant rainwater was being drained at Sai Nagar 9th Cross Street in Thoraipakkam under Sholinganallur Zone by Greater Chennai Corporation on November 2, 2026. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

He said several roads in Thiru.Vi.Ka Nagar Zone, including New Barren Road, Kunnur High Road, Strahans Road, Perambur Barracks Road, Ganeshapuram Road, Ambedkar College Road and Basin Bridge Road, had been affected by excavation works for Metro Rail and Metro Water projects. Sections had been dug up and left uneven without proper restoration, he said. Even light rain could make such stretches hazardous for motorists, particularly those unfamiliar with the road conditions.

He also flagged the continued closure of the Ganeshapuram subway despite the road work not progressing. The closure had forced residents of surrounding neighbourhoods to take longer routes to reach cremation grounds. Residents who could earlier reach the B.B. Road crematorium after travelling about half a kilometre now had to travel nearly eight km, he said.

Following the rains from Cyclone Murasu, repair work is underway to fix potholes formed on the road at Ponniamman Koil Street near Manjambakkam under Manali Zone by the Greater Chennai Corporation on November 2, 2026. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Mr. Kumarasamy alleged that road works awarded during the previous regime had been stopped after the change of government, with officials citing a lack of funds. He said estimates and repair works had not been prepared in advance of the monsoon. He also criticised the absence of advance arrangements such as deploying tractors, generators and pumps in vulnerable locations.

No waterlogging in North

K. Shanmugam, president of the Federation of North Chennai Resident Welfare Associations, said the rain had not caused major flooding in his area. However, water collected in depressions along the road from Chinnamadam to Thiruthangal Nadar College because of its uneven surface. He also flagged K.K. Salai in Manali, a key link road stretching about two–three km towards Manali market, where sections had been dug up for stormwater drain works but had not been properly restored.

Greater Chennai corporation attening to potholes in Kumaran Nagar in Madhavaram on November 2, 2026. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

S. Vishanth of the Ennore Solidarity Group said water had stagnated in parts of Athipattu near Ennore, but the situation had subsequently improved. He said the area where he was located was relatively elevated and had experienced less water accumulation.

No significant stagntion

At Panagal Park in T. Nagar, Ajay Kumar of Vummidi Bangaru Jewellers said rainwater had not entered shops during the latest spell. He said the Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) and the Greater Chennai Corporation had kept motor pumps and tractors ready in the area — following report of water entering shops during the heavy rain on October 22, 2026 of The Hindu.

Cyclone Mirasu | Regional Deputy Commissioner (Central) (RDC) H.R. Koushik inspects Paper Mills Road in Kolathur which is facing stagnation due to continuous rains in Chennai from Sunday night through Monday (Nov 1-2, 2026). Waterlogging at Panagal Park, where many shops reported losses due to rainwater entering shops in Oct, was cleared, according to officials. Visuals: @chennaicorp @THChennai @the_hindu #ChennaiRains #ChennaiRain #CycloneMurasu #CycloneUpdate

— R Aishwaryaa (@AishRavi64) November 1, 2026

In Adyar Zone, Ward Committee chairperson R.D. Durairaj said there was no significant water stagnation, with only thin sheets of water remaining on some interior roads. He said the sinkhole on Velachery Main Road had been closed by 11 p.m. on Sunday. Velachery Main Road, Pallikaranai Road and Medavakkam Road were among the stretches where road conditions required attention.

Deputy Mayor M. Magesh Kumaar, who inspected several areas at around 2 a.m. on Monday, said water stagnation at some locations was caused by catch pits clogged with silt. The water had receded by Monday morning. He called for annual maintenance contracts for bus route roads and interior roads on a zonal basis, with contractors made responsible for attending to damaged stretches immediately after engineers flagged them.

Regarding road issues, he said a contractor should be responsible for repairing damaged roads throughout the year once an Assistant Engineer identifies the problem and the Executive Engineer recommends the work. Officials would inspect the repairs and approve the bill before payment.