Chennai Opens All 22 Subways as Rain Threat Continues

All 22 of Chennai’s subways are open to vehicles again after heavy rain flooded parts of the city. Tamil Nadu officials said crews cleared water from most main bus routes and flooded streets, while drainage work continued in low-lying areas. The reopening marks a step toward normal travel, but another spell of rain threatens the city and nearby districts. ^1,2

That renewed threat has already changed Wednesday’s routine: schools are closed in Chennai, Tiruvallur, Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram and Ranipet after overnight downpours. The India Meteorological Department expects heavy to very heavy rain in parts of Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal through October 26, as weather systems form over the Bay of Bengal. Chennai’s civic commissioner has advised residents to stay indoors unless travel is essential and avoid flooded streets. ^2,3

Those warnings come as the state prepares for flooding, not just rain. Tamil Nadu has put about 8,200 fire and rescue personnel on alert, with teams, boats and equipment placed in high-risk areas. In Chennai and nearby areas, officials are watching 203 flood-prone spots and have stationed rescue teams at 15 points. This level of readiness matters in a city where flooded roads can disrupt travel and make it harder for people to reach help. ⁵

Those 15 rescue posts are one part of a wider response, but the city’s ability to move water also depends on its waterways and efforts to keep them clear. A report has raised claims about poor removal of silt and officials leaving their assigned districts; the material provided does not independently confirm those claims. For now, rain remains the immediate concern: the IMD forecast runs through October 26, and district officials may decide whether school closures need to continue. ^7,2