Good morning, Chennai!
🌦️ Today’s weather: Cloudy skies with a chance of some showers.
🧐 Did you know? In November 2015, Chennai received more than 1,100 mm of rain, the highest in a century. The previous record was 1,088 mm recorded in 1918.
🎖️ Story of the Victory War Memorial
The war memorial reveals interesting facts about Chennai’s history.
What’s it about? Many cities across the country have tributes to the Indian soldiers who served the British military during World War I. Chennai has the Victory War Memorial at the southeastern corner of Fort St. George. Before this, the roundabout where the memorial is located was a meeting point for British officers.
- It came up in 1936 in honour of the fallen soldiers of the Madras presidency. Later, it served as a memorial for soldiers who died in both world wars.
- It has inscriptions in English, Arabic, Tamil, and Telegu. The upper portion has a plaque with the word ‘Victory’ and the years 1914 and 1918. The below one has 1939 and 1945 on it.
Paying homage: The memorial stands at the centre, surrounded by a lawn with flower beds. Every year, on the second Sunday of November, wreaths are laid to honour the fallen soldiers, as November 11 is celebrated as Remembrance Day or Remembrance Sunday to mark the end of World War I in 1918.
🚇 Leaky metro stations
There have been several complaints of metro stations having leaky roofs following the rains.
What’s it about? Following complaints of leaky roofs in underground metro stations, elevated stations have seen similar complaints. In the Alandur and Guindy stations, among the busiest, rainwater was leaking from the roof, posing a risk to passengers. The station staff kept warning signs of a wet floor.
- At the Alandur station, water dripped down on the airport-Wimco Nagar line. At the Guindy station, water leaked on the pathway to the exit.
- For passengers, it was an inconvenience as the water was seeping down to where the trains arrived at the lower level.
Persistent problem: Such instances are common in the Anna Salai stations, possibly due to poor construction. Every monsoon, the situation is the same despite the CMRL forming a team to fix the issue.
🩸 Blood donation in academic calendar
Guru Nanak College has included blood donation as part of its academic calendar.
What’s it about? The students and staff of Guru Nanak College in Velachery have made blood donation a habit. During the semester breaks in April and November, they organise a blood donation drive on campus. The second drive of this year happened on November 10, with representatives of major blood banks present.
- The drive is conducted on working days to help increase attendance. Blood donations are part of their regular functioning as they incentivise students with extra credits and relaxing attendance.
- The auditorium and a hall above the canteen are transformed into a mini-ward with medical staff setting up their equipment. Due to the rains and the T20 World Cup match, attendance wasn’t as high this time.
Part of their DNA: Over the years, the college’s NSS and NCC students have played a key role in organising these drives. In 2018-19, 1,109 units were collected. The highest came in 2021-22 with more than 1,200. During the pandemic, students were sent to hospitals to donate. The college has a database of students and their blood groups.
⛟ Dumpyard at Basin Bridge
Silt from the Buckingham Canal has been dumped at Basin Bridge for months.
What happened? 25 truckloads of silt from the Buckingham Canal have been dumped at Basin Bridge, resulting in slushy roads. The heap of waste occupies almost one lane of the bridge. It also has household and non-biodegradable waste. Royapuram Zonal Officer G Tamilselvan said he would raise a complaint.
- The water resources department desilted the stretch of the canal between Chennai Central and the Cochraine Basin Road in Korrukupet.
- For two-wheeler riders, it’s a hazard as they may skid and fall. Activist R Ramesh said the slush must be removed as soon as possible, or it could be pushed back into the canal by heavy winds.
Importance of the Bridge: The Bridge connects crucial parts of North Chennai Vyasarpadi and Mint. Vehicles can go from Vyasarpadi to Chennai Central via Wall Tax Road.
📊 Today’s Poll
(Only subscribers can participate in the polls)
Do you segregate your trash at home?
- Yes, I do segregate my trash at home.
- No, I don’t segregate my trash at home.
❓ Today’s Question
(Only subscribers can submit their answers)
What’s been the longest solo trip you’ve taken?
Reply to this email with your answers.
🗞️ In other news…
- Chief Minister MK Stalin inspected rain-affected and waterlogged areas across the city.
- Chennai Metro will take additional safety measures at places where tunnel boring machines are deployed.
- The boundary wall at the Kilambakkam bus terminus will be delayed due to land ownership issues.
- The single window system from the CMDA for building approvals has seen an increasing number of applications.
- Ward 58 residents want officials to remove the temporary shelters put up during stormwater drain work.
That’s it for today. Have a great day!