Chennai on High Alert as Heavy Rain Forecasted, School Closures to be Decided Soon

Chennai, October 18 (Daily Kiran) : The Indian Meteorological Department has issued a red alert for Chennai, warning of extremely heavy rainfall. The city and its surrounding areas are already experiencing flood-like conditions, with more rain expected across Tamil Nadu.

In response to the severe weather, Education Minister Raj Mohan stated on Sunday that a decision regarding school closures would be made at the “right time.” An orange alert has also been issued for Chengalpattu, Tiruvallur, Theni, Coimbatore, and Nilgiri.

The weather department forecasts heavy rainfall in 26 districts, including Tiruchirappalli, Madurai, and Pudukkottai. On Saturday, significant rainfall caused waterlogging in several areas of Chennai, leading to submerged roads. Efforts to clear the accumulated water are underway using stormwater channels and motor pumps.

The northeastern monsoon, which began on October 15, has already brought heavy rains to various parts of the state. Current forecasts suggest that this spell of rain will continue, with the potential for very heavy rainfall in Chennai.

During a press briefing, Minister Raj Mohan emphasized that decisions regarding school holidays would be based on information from meteorological centers and private weather observers. He did not specify when an announcement would be made or which districts might see school closures.

While no official announcements regarding holidays were made during the discussion, the minister indicated that the government would assess weather-related information before deciding on school closures.

Following the heavy rainfall, a red alert has been issued for Chennai, while various districts from the northern coastal regions to the western hilly areas of Tamil Nadu are under an orange alert. The forecast for 26 other districts indicates that significant rainfall is likely, extending beyond Chennai and its neighboring areas.