PMK chief urges release of Thiruppugazh report after Chennai sees cloudburst‑level rain

PMK president Anbumani Ramadoss on Sunday demanded that Tamil Nadu publish the Thiruppugazh Committee’s flood‑mitigation report and act on its recommendations after cloudburst‑strength rainfall hit Chennai on Saturday. Several parts of the city recorded rain intensity comparable to a cloudburst, prompting fears of frequent flooding if such events recur. Ramadoss reminded that his party has warned for over five years that climate change could trigger such extreme downpours and that Chennai’s storm‑water drainage and flood‑prevention infrastructure need urgent strengthening. He added that El Niño could worsen the situation this year and that heavier rain may follow in the next days. The Thiruppugazh Committee’s findings have remained undisclosed for 43 months. The previous DMK government said the report listed 161 recommendations, with 101 already in force, but no details of which measures are being applied are known. Ramadoss called on the government to launch comprehensive flood‑prevention work to keep Chennai from being submerged again. ## Context Chennai’s coastal location makes it prone to heavy monsoon rains, and rising temperatures linked to climate change increase the likelihood of sudden, intense downpours. Public access to the committee’s recommendations is seen as essential for transparent planning and effective mitigation.