Bengaluru Schools Shut, But Colleges Open On Oct 21 As Heavy Rains Trigger Holiday; IMD Issues Cyclone Alert

The Bengaluru District Collector has declared a holiday for all schools and anganwadis in the city today, October 21, due to heavy rainfall across the state. This precautionary measure has been taken to ensure the safety of students and staff, as the downpour has led to waterlogging and disrupted traffic in several parts of Bengaluru.

However, degree courses, postgraduate programs, diplomas, engineering colleges, and ITIs are not affected and will continue as scheduled.

The announcement was made verbally due to the urgency of the situation, with an official order expected soon.

IMD Issues Weather Warning Amid Cyclonic Disturbance

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a weather warning for Karnataka and coastal India as a cyclonic storm is brewing over the Bay of Bengal.

Heavy Rainfall Forecast for Coastal Regions

The coastal areas of India are expected to experience heavy rainfall as an upper-air cyclonic circulation has moved from the central Andaman Sea to the North Andaman Sea. The IMD has forecasted very heavy rains in South Interior Karnataka and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands.

Additionally, regions like Gujarat, Konkan and Goa, Madhya Maharashtra, Coastal and North Interior Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Rayalaseema, and Andhra Pradesh are also likely to receive heavy rainfall, the IMD added.

Cyclonic Circulation Moving Toward Bay of Bengal

A low-pressure system over the Bay of Bengal is expected to develop into a cyclonic storm by October 23, according to the IMD. This weather system may affect the Odisha and West Bengal coasts later this week.

Although the exact location of landfall remains uncertain, weather models IMD-GFS and ECMWF suggest it could make landfall near Puri. The IMD has projected the formation of a depression by October 22, which may further intensify into a cyclonic storm by October 23 over the east-central Bay of Bengal.

IMD Director-General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra has warned that certain coastal areas could receive up to 30 cm of rainfall between October 24 and 25, with some locations potentially exceeding that amount.

Bengaluru saw heavy rainfall on Sunday, prompting the Meteorological Department to issue a yellow alert for the city on Tuesday (October 22).