Heavy Rain Batters Chennai On Diwali Morning; Waterlogging, Travel Chaos Across City

Last Updated:October 20, 2025, 10:52 IST

In the Nilgiris, landslides triggered by heavy showers forced the cancellation of train services on the Nilgiri Mountain Railway (NMR) route.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast moderate rain accompanied by thunderstorms in parts of Chennai. (PTI)

Chennai woke up to heavy rain on Monday, dampening Diwali morning celebrations and triggering widespread waterlogging across the city. Two straight days of continuous downpour have disrupted road and air travel, leaving several neighbourhoods struggling with flooding.

Visuals shared on social media showed inundated streets and flooded runways at Chennai airport. Among the worst-hit areas were Velachery, Medavakkam, Pallikaranai, and Neelankarai along the East Coast Road (ECR), where water levels rose sharply after overnight showers.

Traffic movement across key roads slowed to a crawl as vehicles waded through knee-deep water. In several low-lying residential zones, drains overflowed, and residents reported water entering homes. Authorities have urged commuters to exercise caution as intermittent rainfall is expected to continue through the day.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast moderate rain accompanied by thunderstorms in parts of Chennai, Chengalpattu, Cuddalore, Thanjavur, Thiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Puducherry, Karaikal, and nearby districts over the next few hours. The weather department also said rainfall is likely to persist across coastal Tamil Nadu till October 22.

Train Services Hit

In the Nilgiris, landslides triggered by heavy showers forced the cancellation of train services on the Nilgiri Mountain Railway (NMR) route. The Southern Railway reported that “earth slips" and fallen trees had blocked tracks between Kallar and Coonoor, suspending three train services — Mettupalayam–Udagamandalam (Train No. 56136 and 06171) and Udagamandalam–Mettupalayam (Train No. 56137).

Several coastal and delta districts, including Nagapattinam, Cuddalore, Ramanathapuram, Sivaganga, and Villupuram, also experienced relentless rain since Sunday. In Thoothukudi, while local markets remained open despite the weather, the district administration declared a holiday for schools due to heavy rain and waterlogging.

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