Anand Mahindra calls Thar wading through Chennai flood ‘an amphibious’ creature [Video]

Cyclone Michaung has been in the news for the past couple of days. The cyclone’s impact was visible in parts of Tamil Nadu. Chennai and other parts of the state are experiencing heavy rainfall as a result, significantly affecting the lives of residents. Several videos have surfaced showing swollen lakes overflowing and submerging low-lying areas nearby. Many parts of the city were and still are underwater, with numerous cars and bikes parked outside homes suffering flood damage.

An Instagram post from Chennai that was forwarded to me… A sighting of an amphibious creature… pic.twitter.com/pYIl2bZ2kj

— anand mahindra (@anandmahindra) December 5, 2023

Here, we have a video shared by Anand Mahindra on X (formerly Twitter). In this video, a Mahindra Thar is seen navigating through the flooded roads of Chennai. Referring to it as an ‘Amphibious Creature,’ the bossman highlighted its capability.

The video has been circulating online since yesterday after someone shared it with Anand Mahindra on Instagram. It was recorded by an individual residing in a high-rise building. The roads are completely flooded due to heavy rain, devoid of any vehicles except for a black Mahindra Thar traversing through the water. Trucks are also seen moving along the same road in the opposite direction.

The Mahindra Thar appeared to be in its stock condition. No snorkel was spotted, which could assist in breathing air without issues if the water level rises. The water level reached the SUV’s bonnet, and the waves created by passing vehicles on the opposite lane added to the challenge. Nonetheless, the SUV driver maintained a constant speed, successfully navigating through the flooded road. It’s evident that the water did not enter the SUV’s cabin as the vehicle’s front pushed water away.

While sharing the video, Anand Mahindra wrote, “An Instagram post from Chennai forwarded to me… A sighting of an amphibious creature…” He referred to it as such because the vehicle is being driven through water, yet it performs well on the road too. It remains uncertain whether the Mahindra Thar driver intentionally created content by driving through flooded roads or sought higher ground to park the vehicle.

Driving a vehicle through flooded roads might appear entertaining, but things can take a turn for the worse swiftly. It can pose a serious issue, particularly if your vehicle isn’t prepared for it. Although the Mahindra Thar, an off-road SUV, is capable of navigating water and rough terrains, even it can get stuck in water. The likelihood of the SUV getting trapped in a rain or cyclone-induced pothole is high. In such a scenario, rescuing the SUV becomes a challenging task. Potholes aren’t the only concern; even a submerged rock can cause problems for the vehicle. Hydrolocking is another issue; water might enter the engine through the air intake, resulting in engine failure. Restarting the vehicle becomes impossible until the water is cleared—an expensive and time-consuming procedure.

Coming back to the Michaung cyclone, it has now moved to Andhra coast and the Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has asked all the government departments to be ready for relief and rescue operations. Red alert has been issued in eight areas – Tirupati, Nellore, Prakasam, Bapatla, Krishna, West Godavari, Konaseema and Kakinada.