The city of Chennai, renowned for its vibrant culture and bustling streets, has found itself grappling with the challenges posed by torrential monsoon rains. As heavy downpours continue to batter the city, residents have resorted to unconventional measures to safeguard their vehicles from the flood-prone conditions.

One such measure has been the practice of parking cars on flyovers, a desperate attempt to escape the rising floodwaters that have caused significant damage in the past. This trend has not gone unnoticed by the traffic police, who have begun issuing fines for unauthorized parking on these elevated structures.

The decision to park vehicles on flyovers highlights the shortcomings of Chennai’s flood management infrastructure. The city’s inability to cope with the intense rainfall has instilled a sense of fear and uncertainty among residents whose vehicles have been severely affected by previous deluges.

The Regional Meteorological Centre has issued a red alert for several parts of Chennai, predicting a staggering 20 cm of rain in a single day. In response, Chief Minister Stalin convened a meeting to discuss disaster preparedness measures. To mitigate the impact of the heavy rains, IT firms have been advised to allow employees to work from home between October 15 and 18, 2024.

The government is actively mobilizing resources to address the situation. Teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) are being deployed to vulnerable areas to provide assistance and ensure safety.

As Chennai braces for the impending storm, the practice of parking vehicles on flyovers serves as a stark reminder of the challenges faced by the city’s residents in the face of extreme weather events. It raises questions about the effectiveness of urban planning and infrastructure in a region where nature’s fury often clashes with human settlements.