Chennai receives heaviest rainfall in a decade, city plunged in despair

Heavy rains that sank Chennai city in 24 hours was the highest rainfall in the last 10 years, says the Met department.

People moving from their waterlogged house following heavy rain in Chennai on Monday (November 16). (Source: PTI)

Chennai had 246.5 mm rainfall in the last 24 hours which breaks the record of November 2005 which saw 142.4 mm, said Thambi Narayanan, deputy director general, meteorological department, Chennai.

An elderly man carrying a child walks through flood waters in Chennai, Tamil Nadu state, India, Monday, November 16. Incessant rains that lashed the city since Saturday night flooded several parts of Chennai. (Source: AP)

The Army and Air Force have been deployed for rescuing stranded citizens in Kancheepuram district, where torrential rains have left residents marooned, even as rain water inundated a large part of suburban Tambaram locality in Chennai.

Rescue workers on a boat move people to safety at a residential area that was water-logged following heavy rains in Chennai. (Source: AP)

Personnel from the Madras 4 Regiment of the Indian Army have been pressed into service at Mudichur in Kacheepuram on the request of the district administration even as Air Force has conducted sorties to rescue citizens, Defence officials said.

Rescuers lift a child on to a truck as they evacuate people from a residential area that was flooded following heavy rains in Chennai. (Source: AP)

IAF helicopters from the Air Force station at Tambaram carried out six sorties and evacuated 22 persons last night, food packets and water were air dropped.

An older woman lifted by rescue worker following heavy rains, in Chennai. (Source: PTI)

Citizens were also being evacuated from Kotturpuram and nearby areas in the city, as the discharge from Chembarambakkam lake had resulted in Adyar river running in spate.

Rescue workers carry an elderly woman to safety at a residential area that was water-logged following heavy rains in Chennai, Tamil Nadu state, Monday, November 16. (Source: AP)

As many as 71 deaths have been reported in various rain-related incidents, including electrocution and drowning, till last night.

People rescued by a boat after heavy rains in Chennai. (Source: PTI)

People rescued by a boat after heavy rains in Chennai on Monday (November 16). (Source: PTI)

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa visits her constituency to review the situation following the rains, in Chennai on Monday (November 16). (Source: PTI)

An aerial view of flood affected areas of Kanchipuram District on the outskirt of Chennai. (Source: PTI)

Incessant rains that lashed the city since Saturday night flooded several parts of Chennai. (Source: PTI)