Tamil Nadu rains: Schools and colleges to remain shut in several districts on Wednesday

Chennai: District administrations across coastal Tamil Nadu have ordered a closure of educational institutions on Wednesday in anticipation of heavy rains, following a severe weather warning from the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

In Chennai, only schools, both government and private, will remain closed, while in Chengalpattu, Villupuram, Thanjavur, Kallakurichi, Mayiladuthurai, Cuddalore, and Thiruvallur, both schools and colleges will be shut, officials confirmed.

The IMD issued a Red Alert for eight districts and an Orange Alert for ten, including Chennai, after a weather system over the Bay of Bengal intensified into a deep depression early Tuesday.

Meteorologists said the depression, which formed over the southwest Bay of Bengal around 5:30 a.m., is moving west-northwest toward northern Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and southern Andhra Pradesh and could develop into a low-pressure zone by Wednesday afternoon before making landfall along the Tamil Nadu–Andhra coastline.

The Red Alert covers Villupuram, Cuddalore, Mayiladuthurai, Nagapattinam, Thiruvarur, Thanjavur, Pudukottai, Ramanathapuram, and Karaikal (UT), warning of very heavy to extremely heavy rainfall, while an Orange Alert for Chennai, Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur, Chengalpattu, Kallakurichi, Perambalur, Ariyalur, Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli, and Kanniyakumari signals heavy to very heavy rains.

Strong winds of 45–55 kmph, gusting up to 65 kmph, are expected along Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coasts. Fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea due to rough conditions.

Local administrations have been asked to stay on high alert, ensure relief camps are functional, and prepare for possible flooding and power outages. The Tamil Nadu State Disaster Management Authority (TNSDMA) has deployed disaster response teams across coastal districts and intensified monsoon preparedness measures. IANS