Tamil Nadu Rains: Is There A Holiday For Schools In Chennai & Other Dists On Monday?

Cyclone Fengal unleashed its fury across Tamil Nadu and Puducherry on Sunday, with torrential rains disrupting normal life and leaving several districts waterlogged.

At least 25 districts in Tamil Nadu experienced heavy rainfall, with Villupuram and Puducherry recording the highest precipitation levels. The intense downpour led to widespread flooding, red alerts in select districts, and closure of schools in rain-affected regions.

Alerts Issued Across the State
Authorities placed Villuppuram, Kallakuruchi, and Cuddalore districts under a red alert due to the severity of rainfall. An orange alert was issued for Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram, Tiruvannamalai, Dharmapuri, Salem, Perambalur, Ariyalur, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Mayiladuthurai, Nagapattinam, and Karaikal areas. Meanwhile, Chennai, Tiruvallur, Ranipet, Vellore, Tirupattur, Krishnagiri, Erode, Nilgiris, Namakkal, Tiruchirapalli, and Pudukkottai districts were placed under a yellow alert.

For Monday, meteorological authorities issued an orange alert for Nilgiris, Erode, Coimbatore, Tiruppur, and Dindigul, while Krishnagiri, Dharmapuri, Salem, Namakkal, Tiruchirapalli, Karur, Madurai, and Theni were under a yellow alert.

School Holidays Declared in Several Districts
Safety concerns prompted district administrations to declare school holidays in multiple areas. Puducherry, Villupuram, Cuddalore, Tiruvannamalai, Kallakurichi, and Krishnagiri announced holidays for all schools on Monday. Partial closures were implemented in Ranipet, Vellore, Dharmapuri, Salem, and Tirupattur, where only schools were given a day off.

Villupuram and Puducherry Among the Hardest Hit
Rainfall data highlighted the unprecedented intensity of the showers. Mylam in Villupuram district topped the charts, recording 51 cm of rain on Saturday. Puducherry AWS and Puducherry Town followed closely with 49 cm and 48 cm, respectively. Other significant rainfall levels were observed in Thirukkanur (43 cm), Bahour (32 cm), and Marakkanam (24 cm).

Villupuram district faced widespread flooding, with regions like Tindivanam (37 cm), Nemoor (35 cm), and Valavanur (28 cm) experiencing heavy rains. Puducherry also bore the brunt, with its town and nearby areas recording consistently high rainfall figures, compounding the challenges for residents.

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has urged citizens to remain vigilant, particularly in flood-prone areas. Emergency services are on high alert, and disaster response teams have been deployed to assist affected districts.

As the state continues to battle the deluge, officials have assured that measures are in place to mitigate the impact. With forecasts indicating more rain in the coming days, the focus remains on ensuring public safety and minimizing disruptions.