Chennai floods: Rail, air services restored as water retreats

Train services and flights on Monday resumed operations in the city after days of disruption due to torrential rains that left thousands of passengers stranded.

While services of trains partially resumed on Saturday, a Southern Railway spokesperson said all trains particularly to Chennai and its surrounding areas were operating in full swing from Monday.

"Yes, train operation are on full swing from today especially in Chennai and surrounding areas..", he told PTI.

Chennai Airport Director Deepak Shastri said the airport is fully functional from Monday.

Commercial operations, which began partially on Sunday, were fully functional.

"It is fully functional from today", Shastri told PTI.

He said the services were fully restored on Monday and airport was waiting to receive the schedule from private airlines.

"It (Airport) is functioning one hundred per cent. In fact, I am waiting for the schedule from private airlines", he said.

Several inter-city and intra-state trains including local trains had been cancelled following heavy rains leaving thousands of passengers stranded.

Chennai Airport was shut since last week as runways were flooded.

Several stranded passengers at Chennai Central railway station and Chennai Egmore were taken to their onward destinations by special trains arranged by Southern Railway.

Air India, which began day time operations on Sunday, transported passengers to various places from Chennai to Port Blair, New Delhi and Hyderabad.