Chennai and Tiruvallur districts are under a Red Alert as the weakened remnant of Cyclone Ditwah continues to hover dangerously close to the Tamil Nadu coast. The Chennai Meteorological Centre confirmed that the system, which was a cyclonic storm over the southwest Bay of Bengal on November 30, has now weakened into a deep depression but remains active in the region.

According to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), the depression is drifting slowly northward, with its centre on Monday morning positioned over the southwest and adjoining west-central Bay of Bengal near the north Tamil Nadu–Puducherry–south Andhra Pradesh coastline. At this time, it was roughly 50 km east-southeast of Chennai, 130 km northeast of Puducherry, 150 km northeast of Cuddalore, and nearly 200 km south-southeast of Nellore.

The closest point between the depression and the north Tamil Nadu–Puducherry coast was just 40 km, raising the risk of heavy rainbands moving inland. The IMD warned that the system is likely to continue moving northward parallel to the coast over the next 12 hours, weakening further while still affecting the region. The distance from Chennai could narrow to 30 km, increasing the chances of intense rainfall over northern coastal districts.

Heavy rain and flooding disrupt city life

Chennai has been receiving continuous heavy rainfall since early Monday morning. The Met Department has upgraded its warning from Orange to Red Alert for Chennai and Tiruvallur, signalling the possibility of extremely heavy rainfall exceeding 20 cm at isolated locations.

Neighbouring districts including Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram, and Ranipet have also been placed under heavy rainfall alerts, with thunderstorms and lightning expected across Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Karaikal.

Authorities have urged residents to remain indoors, avoid unnecessary travel, and follow official advisories. Disaster response teams are on standby, as the city faces flooding in low-lying areas and severe traffic disruptions due to persistent showers.

Schools and exams postponed

The heavy rains prompted district collectors in Chennai, Tiruvallur, Chengalpet, and Kancheepuram to declare Tuesday a holiday for schools and colleges. Anna University has postponed semester exams, while Madras University has deferred exams scheduled in the affected districts.

The continuous downpour has left Chennai and neighbouring areas struggling with disrupted daily life as residents contend with waterlogged streets and safety concerns amid the persistent storm system.