Chennai: Tamil Nadu has announced school holidays across several districts on Monday, following a heavy rain alert issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

Kallakurichi District Collector MS Prasanth has declared a holiday for schools in the district on Monday, while Ramanathapuram District Collector Simranjeet Singh Kahlon has also announced a one-day holiday for schools due to intense rainfall.

In the Union Territory, Puducherry Home Minister A. Namassivayam confirmed that schools and colleges in the Puducherry and Karaikal regions will remain closed on Monday owing to rain.

School holidays have additionally been announced in the districts of Virudhunagar, Thanjavur, Tiruchi, Pudukottai, Nagapattinam, Mayiladuthurai, Tiruvarur, Ariyalur, and Karur.

Disaster response prepared

Amid the heavy rain forecast, the Tamil Nadu government has deployed three teams of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) to Thoothukudi and Tirunelveli districts. Two teams have been sent to Thoothukudi, and one to Tirunelveli.

The IMD has predicted heavy rainfall across Cuddalore, Ariyalur, Mayiladuthurai, Nagapattinam, Tiruvarur, Thanjavur, Pudukkottai, Sivaganga, Madurai, Virudhunagar, and Ramanathapuram districts, according to an official communication. District Collectors have been instructed to take necessary precautionary measures.

Cyclonic system developing in Bay of Bengal

IMD scientist Dr. Sanjeev Dwivedi said on Sunday that a low-pressure area formed over the Bay of Bengal may intensify into a depression on November 24, and has the potential to strengthen into a cyclonic storm.

Speaking to ANI, he said,“A low-pressure area over the Strait of Malacca and the adjoining Andaman region is expected to move west to northwest, with the possibility of depression formation over the South Andaman Sea on November 24. The (low-pressure) system will continue to move west-northwest. It is likely to intensify into a cyclonic storm.”

He also clarified that “However, Odisha will experience dry weather for the next seven days, with no cyclonic effect.”