Powerful waves driven by rough seas crashed onto the Ennore Expressway in North Chennai at around 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, knocking down several motorists and damaging parked vehicles and roadside stalls along the coastal stretch, Mirror Now reported. Video reports by NDTV and The Hindu showed seawater surging across the road, toppling parked motorcycles and sweeping into passing vehicles and commuters.

Source: Mirror Now

Police moved in to secure the area and temporarily closed the affected section of the expressway. Greater Chennai Corporation officials from the Thiruvottiyur zone said traffic was being diverted towards Thiruvottiyur High Road while the high-sea conditions persisted.

Local officials linked the dangerous sea conditions to Cyclone Arnab as it approaches the Andhra Pradesh coast, with landfall projected between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam, near Yanam. The Ennore–Kasimedu stretch is a vital artery for heavy port traffic as well as local commuters in North Chennai.

Residents pointed out that this part of the North Chennai coastline has a narrow coastal buffer of only about 20 to 30 metres, normally protected by groynes built to break the force of incoming swells. On Tuesday, the intensity of the sea allowed waves to bypass those structures and spill directly onto the roadway, even though the expressway sits elevated above sea level, catching many motorists by surprise.

The reports reviewed did not give a count of injuries. Commuters were advised to follow police diversions and official weather updates while rough-sea conditions continue along the Chennai coast.