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A Chennai Corporation vehicle pushes through an inundated Ganesapuram subway. A pedestrian scrambles out of the way. This is among a dozen subways in Chennai rendered virtually unusable by stagnant rain water. Photo: R. Ragu

Traffic on the busy Perumbakkam Main Road between Medavakkam and Sholinganallur crawls along cautiously during morning rush hour. The under five-kilometre stretch holds up vehicles for nearly two hours. Photo: A. Muralitharan

A view of the waterlogged Kaliamman Koil Street in Virugambakkam. This already narrow street has been rendered further restricting to motorists. Photo: S.S. Kumar Photo: S_S_Kumar

A bird's eye view of the Tiruvottiur High Road near Thangal. Traffic is forced to weave around stagnant water on the road. According to the Chennai Corporation, stagnant water is being pumped out of subways and 33 localities vulnerable to flooding are being monitored. Photo: R. Ravindran Photo: R_Ravindran

Rain water build up in areas like the Adithanar Salai in Pudupet is high enough to reach the undercarriage and engines of vehicles, triggering corrosion and disrepair. Photo: V. Ganesan

The danger to motorists, especially bikers, is considerable. The pools of water often hide the depth of the potholes underneath. Bikers attempt to skirt the danger zone on this road in Ramapuram. Photo: R. Shivaji Rao

On arterial routes like Arcot Road, commuters have even less space to manouvre. Photo: R. Shivaji Rao

With even heavy vehicles daunted by the state of the roads, Arcot Road (in picture), Jawaharlal Nehru Salai and Rajiv Gandhi Salai are plagued by congestion. Photo: S.S. Kumar

With civic authorities stretched to respond to situations in major routes, a number of interior roads like the one in the picture in T.T.K. Nagar, Tambaram are beyond immediate help. Photo: A. Muralitharan Photo: A_Muralitharan