As the northeast monsoon exposes Chennai’s fragile civic systems, an India Today journalist faced a barrage of caste-based abuse online after highlighting the city’s deteriorating roads and poor drainage.
Senior Editor Akshita Nandagopal and reporter Anagha Keshav recently aired a ground report from Pallikaranai, Medavakkam, and Madipakkam, showing how potholes, waterlogging, and incomplete repairs had turned major stretches into what residents described as “death traps.” The segment featured visuals of damaged arterial roads and commuters struggling through flooded lanes.
Following the broadcast, Nandagopal shared the report on social media, noting that “Chennai is crippled even before the full force of the monsoon hits the city” and inviting citizens to share their local concerns.
Chennai is crippled even before the full force of the monsoon hits the city and @IndiaToday is now on a mission to change that. Join us, you can share the situation in your area in Chennai this monsoon here: https://t.co/R7Vc5iziP0 pic.twitter.com/2TUTxj5Dlu
— Akshita Nandagopal (@Akshita_N) October 22, 2025
In response, Nandagopal expressed dismay at the reaction, stating that while infrastructure issues in other cities are discussed unanimously, raising the same concerns in Chennai leads to “caste abuses and hate.”
Funny how I’ve campaigned for infra fixes across so many cities and everyone spoke in one voice for better infra.
Raise Chennai, and suddenly, caste abuses and hate pour in- rather telling of why nobody can raise questions of the monsoon mess in the city! https://t.co/xMKM9JriFB
— Akshita Nandagopal (@Akshita_N) October 23, 2025
Residents criticized the decision to undertake patchwork repairs during rainfall, calling it a poor use of public funds. State Highways officials said bituminous work was ongoing but admitted that jurisdiction overlaps between Tambaram Corporation and the Highways Department had delayed coordinated repairs.
Elsewhere, Old Mahabalipuram Road (OMR), Porur, and parts of North Chennai, including Pattalam and Vyasarpadi, faced severe flooding after brief downpours. The Times of India’s independent audit confirmed that the first two monsoon spells had already crippled several neighbourhoods, contradicting official claims of preparedness.
A red alert remains in place for multiple Tamil Nadu districts, with the India Meteorological Department warning of extremely heavy rainfall. Despite Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin’s inspection rounds, residents in multiple zones say the city’s civic infrastructure has yet to withstand even mild showers.
Subscribe to our channels on Telegram, Instagram and YouTube to get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.