Months of heavy rain and flooding have knocked out power, suspended public transportation and left people stranded in Chennai, India.
The Indian army and navy are carrying out rescue operations, the Indian defense ministry told CNN. The Indian Coast Guard is also working to rescue people.
At least nine people have died so far in severe flooding that has hit Chennai in recent days, according to a Tamil Nadu state official tally released Wednesday.
Emotional images of dramatic rescues in inflatable boats and civilians hoisting people over muddy flood waters have inundated social media under the hashtag #Chennaifloods.
Baradan Dharumaiyan captured footage of cascading water lapping at peoples’ knees in Kotturpuram, Tamil Nadu state.
“People who were standing with me were the people who lost their home and waiting for rescue,” he told CNN.
Dharumaiyan fears if the water levels rise overnight, he will have water in his home.
More than a foot of rain fell in the last 24 hours in Chennai — that’s about the amount of rain London would receive in six months, according to CNN Meteorologist Pedram Javaheri
It has rained 34 of the last 40 days and the heavy-rain-warning continues, according to CNN meteorologists. The rain warning for the southern Indian states of Tamil Nadu and neighboring Puducherry are forecast through December 5, accorting to India’s main weather office.
