Schools to remain closed in Puducherry today amid heavy rain forecast even as Cyclone Ditwah weakens

Puducherry: All schools in Puducherry will remain closed on December 1 as the Union Territory prepares for heavy rainfall associated with Cyclone Ditwah. The holiday covers all government, private and aided schools across the region.

Home and Education Minister A Namassivayam said the closure was announced as a precautionary step based on weather warnings, adding that the administration is continually assessing the situation.

Cyclone Ditwah, which has weakened into a deep depression, is expected to hover over the southwest Bay of Bengal at a distance of nearly 20 km from the North Tamil Nadu–Puducherry coast by Monday morning, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The system was last observed around 90 km southeast of Puducherry and at varying distances from other coastal points including Cuddalore, Karaikal, Vedaranyam and Chennai.

How Cyclone Ditwah got its name

The name ‘Ditwah’ was proposed by Yemen and refers to a lagoon. It is believed to be derived from Detwah Lagoon, a well-known saline lagoon on the northwest coast of Socotra. The cyclone has been moving slowly along the Tamil Nadu–Puducherry coastline, initially progressing northward at about 5 kmph before weakening into a deep depression on Sunday night.

Weather forecast for December 1

The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) forecasts light to moderate rain in isolated areas of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry–Karaikal on Monday. Thunderstorms and lightning are expected in a few places, while Tiruvallur district may experience heavy rainfall.

Wind speeds are likely to reduce to 45–55 kmph, with gusts up to 65 kmph, and sea conditions are expected to gradually improve from very rough to rough by Monday morning.

(With PTI inputs)