Tamil Nadu: Holiday For Schools In 5 Dists As IMD Issues Heavy Rain Alert

The northeast monsoon has intensified in Tamil Nadu, bringing heavy overnight rainfall and prompting authorities to declare school holidays in several districts.

Schools in Ramanathapuram, Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli, Tenkasi, and Tiruvarur will remain closed on Wednesday, as announced by district collectors. In Kanyakumari, schools in Kanniyakumari and Pechiparai areas have also been shut due to continuous rains on November 20.

Earlier on Tuesday, Nagapattinam, Thoothukudi, and Karaikal districts declared holidays for schools, with colleges in Karaikal also remaining closed. However, in Thoothukudi, colleges functioned as usual.

Talking about the heavy rains in Rameswaram, weather blogger R Pradeep John (PJ), said, "Mind blowing rains in Rameswaram belt with 411 mm in just 10 hrs. Historic special rains. Nagai belt too get heavy rains. Rameswaram in 3 hours has got 362 mm. It should been like sheet of water falling with hippos and elephants. Never seen such an intensity in my blogging time. We should not call it a cloud burst, we should name it as Super Cloud Burst."

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast moderate rainfall across Tamil Nadu for the next five days and issued alerts for several regions. Southern and delta districts are on high alert, and residents have been advised to stay vigilant.

Delta regions, including Thanjavur, Nagapattinam, Tiruvarur, and Mayiladuthurai, have been particularly affected by waterlogging and disruption to daily activities.

Tamil Nadu witnessed intense rainfall on Tuesday, with nine locations recording double-digit rainfall figures, the Regional Meteorological Centre said in its daily bulletin.

Nalumukku in Tirunelveli district received the highest rainfall, measuring 17 cm. Oothu (Tirunelveli) and Kodiayakarai (Nagapattinam) followed closely, with each receiving 15 cm.

Other notable rainfall figures included Kakkachi (14 cm), Tirupoondi (13 cm), Thirukuvalai (11 cm), and several locations like Vedaranyam, Manjolai, and Ramanathapuram recording 10 cm each. Thalaignayer saw 9 cm, while Velankanni and Paramakudi reported 8 cm each.

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast heavy rainfall for 15 districts on Wednesday, including Nagapattinam, Tiruvarur, Tirunelveli, Kanyakumari, Mayiladuthurai, Thanjavur, Pudukkottai, Sivaganga, Ramanathapuram, Thoothukudi, Virudhunagar, and Tenkasi.