CALAMITY// On December 1 and 2, Chennai received 345 mm of rainfall. This is more rain than has ever fallen on the city in the past 100 years; in fact, since 1901, according to US space agency NASA. The city was completely flooded with many areas under six to 10 feet of water. Boats, rather than cars, were the only way to get around flooded areas. Power supply was switched off for several days. More than 250 people have died in these floods and property worth crores have been affected.

Weather scientists are saying the EL Nino phenomenon that causes the water of the Pacific Ocean to warm up more than usual is the reason for the extreme amount of rain that Chennai received. But the flooding that hit the city was also caused by a human-made problem. Over the past 15 years, many, many new buildings have come up in the metro, most built over marshlands, river banks and open spaces. These natural features, had they not been disturbed, would have absorbed much of the rain that fell and the floods would not have been that severe. In fact, as was reported by many television channels, Chennai’s entire airport is built over a flood plain. No wonder then that the airport was under several feet of water and no flights could land in the city! Reports suggest that the catastrophe will cost India’s economy an estimated $3 billion (Rs 20,034 crore) in losses.