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The1943 Chennai floods occurred during the annualnortheast monsoon inMadras (nowChennai) inIndia.[1]
Lying on theBay of Bengal coast, Chennai is prone to violent storms and thundershowers during the northeast monsoon (September–November). In October 1943, there were continuous rains lasting over six days.
TheCoovum and theAdyar rivers overflowed inundating the surrounding residential areas. The brunt of the damage was borne by the slums that lay on the banks of the Coovum. Slums in Lock Cheri,Choolaimedu,Perambur, Kosapet, Kondithope andChintadripet were washed out and people sought refuge in theRipon Building. There were casualties in Medavakkam, Perambur andPurasawalkam. The police used boats andcatamarans to row people to safety.
