Rain Rain Go Away, Come again on a weekend

Date : 15-Apr-2015

Time : 8.30 AM to 2.00 PM

Place : Chennai

Rainfalls are very exciting. Especially when it comes during peak summer, it is most welcome. I always associate dancing, hot chai and  molaga bajji with heavy showers. Maybe that is why it is so much exciting. But then, reality hits you and you realize you have to commute to work. And then begins the nightmare.

I doubt if Chennai is really prepared for heavy showers. Particularly the stretch from Sholinganallur to Madya Kailash. Don’t believe me ? See the pictures below and judge for yourself. The drizzle started just when I was leaving from home and by the time I hit the road, water was everywhere.

Picture this. You have a 6 lane road effectively separated by a median in the center and on either side. In essence you have just built a dam to collect water. With no proper drains available, one has to count on the power of evaporation for the water to recede. Given the kind of heat Chennai is used to, that is never a problem.

Water takes up most of the road leaving the commuters with very little road space for maneuvering their vehicles. And the result – CHAOS.

Traffic piled up from Tidel park till Madya Kailash

So, remember this when it rains – Enjoy a movie, with molaga bhajji and hot chai at home. Don’t even think about going to work.

P.S. More about the April 15 rainfall