Chennai: Schools in five districts of northern Tamil Nadu remained shut on Wednesday as heavy overnight rainfall lashed Chennai and its neighbourhoods, prompting district collectors to announce a precautionary holiday for all schools in Chennai, Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram, Chengalpattu and Ranipet.
The holiday orders were issued individually by the collectors of the respective districts on Tuesday evening and early Wednesday morning as rain intensified across the region. Officials said the decision was taken purely as a precautionary measure to keep students safe amid waterlogging and disruptions reported in several parts of the city.
It is important to note that the holiday applies only to schools. Colleges in the five districts remained open as per schedule, and there is no statewide closure of educational institutions. The orders cover government schools, government-aided schools and private schools functioning within these districts.
The downpour began on Tuesday night and continued with intensity till around 6 am on Wednesday, catching many residents off guard during the early morning commute hours. Several areas in and around Chennai recorded intense rainfall through the night, with roads in low-lying neighbourhoods reporting stagnant water by daybreak.
Data released by the Regional Meteorological Centre showed that Meenambakkam recorded 12 centimetres of rainfall, the highest among the listed stations. Nungambakkam received 11 centimetres, Taramani 10 centimetres and Madhavaram 9 centimetres. Villivakkam and Nandanam each recorded 8 centimetres of rain during the period.
Civic officials said water stagnated at Anna Salai and Woods Road, two of the busiest stretches in central Chennai, slowing down traffic in the morning hours. Waterlogging was reported from several other parts of the city as well, while fallen trees and power disruptions added to the residents' woes in some neighbourhoods.
Greater Chennai Corporation teams were deployed across the city to clear waterlogged stretches and remove fallen trees. Field staff were pressed into service in vulnerable pockets to ensure that stormwater drains remained functional and that emergency complaints were attended to without delay.
Greater Chennai Corporation Commissioner GS Sameeran advised residents to remain indoors and step out only if travel was essential. He urged people to avoid waterlogged areas and exercise caution while moving around the city, particularly in stretches where water had accumulated on the carriageway.
The wet spell is not expected to ease immediately. According to the Regional Meteorological Centre, a fresh system over the Bay of Bengal is likely to sustain intense rainfall across Tamil Nadu till October 26, meaning residents of the state should brace for more rain over the coming days.
Weather officials have issued an orange alert for parts of southern Tamil Nadu. Districts such as Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi are expected to receive heavy to very heavy rainfall on October 21 and 22, with rainfall amounts possibly reaching up to 20 centimetres in some pockets. An orange alert indicates a high likelihood of disruptive weather and calls for heightened preparedness by the administration and the public.
In addition, yellow alerts have been sounded across most districts of Tamil Nadu. A yellow alert typically signals moderate rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning, and residents have been asked to stay updated with official weather bulletins and take basic precautions.
The current spell follows an already wet weekend for the capital city. On Sunday, the Parrys weather station recorded a whopping 36.3 centimetres of rainfall, while 12 other locations across Chennai registered 11.5 centimetres or more. The fresh bout of rain on Tuesday night has therefore compounded an already saturated situation in several localities.
Meteorologists point out that Tamil Nadu, along with Puducherry, normally receives heavy rainfall during the northeast monsoon, which officially sets in between October and December. The ongoing rainfall activity is consistent with the early phase of the season, when weather systems forming over the Bay of Bengal travel towards the Tamil Nadu coast and bring copious rain.
The forecast also extends beyond Tamil Nadu. Fairly widespread to widespread rainfall is likely over the neighbouring states of Kerala, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh till October 24, indicating that the weather system will influence a large part of peninsular India over the next few days.
For residents of Chennai and the neighbouring districts, the practical message from the authorities is clear: avoid unnecessary travel, stay away from waterlogged streets and underpasses, and keep a watch on official advisories. School managements have been asked to inform parents about the holiday, and parents have been requested not to send children to school premises on Wednesday.
Emergency and civic response teams remain on standby as the city navigates the heavy rainfall spell. Officials said the situation is being monitored continuously, and further decisions, including any extension of the school holiday, will be taken based on the evolving weather conditions and the advice of the meteorological department.
The heavy overnight showers also affected the morning commute, with several arterial roads reporting slow movement of traffic. Commuters in central Chennai faced delays as civic teams worked to pump out stagnant water from Anna Salai and Woods Road, two stretches that witness high volumes of traffic during peak hours.
The orange alert for southern Tamil Nadu deserves particular attention. Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi, the two districts named in the forecast, may receive heavy to very heavy rainfall up to 20 centimetres on October 21 and 22. Residents of these districts have been advised to remain vigilant, as such intense rainfall in a short span can lead to flash flooding in low-lying areas.
Weather officials explained that the yellow alerts sounded across most districts of Tamil Nadu signal moderate rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning. People have been advised to avoid taking shelter under trees during thunderstorms and to keep track of official bulletins issued by the meteorological department.
The fresh weather system over the Bay of Bengal is the key driver behind the extended wet spell. With intense rainfall likely to persist across Tamil Nadu till October 26, officials have asked the public to plan their week with the forecast in mind and avoid travel plans that could be affected by heavy rain.
The northeast monsoon remains the most significant rainy season for Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. Unlike the southwest monsoon, which brings most of its rain to the western coast, the northeast monsoon arrives between October and December and is the primary source of annual rainfall for several districts of Tamil Nadu, making active spells like the current one a familiar feature of the season.
(Reporting based on The Hindu and Hindustan Times.)