News Desk: Schools in Chennai and four other districts of Tamil Nadu remained closed on Wednesday, October 21, as heavy rainfall continued to affect several parts of the state. The districts where a one-day school holiday was declared are Chennai, Tiruvallur, Chengalpattu, Kanchipuram and Ranipet.
Rain continued through Tuesday night and into Wednesday morning, causing waterlogging in several parts of Chennai. Areas including Bazullah Road, Usman Road, Usman Nagar and T Nagar were among those affected, according to visuals shared by news agency Press Trust of India. The waterlogged roads also raised concerns about traffic movement and daily commuting.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued weather alerts for several districts, warning of continued rainfall, thunderstorms and lightning. A yellow alert was issued for most districts, including Vellore, Namakkal, Erode, Kanyakumari and Tirunelveli. A yellow alert indicates the possibility of moderate rainfall and associated weather activity.
Meanwhile, an orange alert was issued for some areas, including Tiruvallur, Chengalpattu, Villupuram, Thanjavur and Cuddalore. The alert warns of very heavy rainfall, along with thunderstorms, lightning and squally weather.
According to the weather department, a spell of heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely to continue across Tamil Nadu until October 24. The current weather conditions are linked to the active northeast monsoon, which typically brings substantial rainfall to Tamil Nadu and Puducherry between October and December.
The IMD had earlier forecast heavy rainfall over the state following the possible formation of a low-pressure area over the southwest Bay of Bengal. An upper-air cyclonic circulation was observed over the region off the north Tamil Nadu coast and was expected to intensify into a low-pressure area within 24 hours, according to the department's forecast.
Chennai has already experienced significant rainfall in recent days. The regional meteorological centre reported that Parrys recorded 36.3 cm of rainfall on Sunday, while several other locations in the city received heavy to very heavy rainfall.
The weather department has also forecast widespread rainfall across parts of southern India, including Kerala, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, through October 24.
With further downpours expected, residents have been advised to remain cautious, particularly in waterlogged areas and locations vulnerable to flooding. The continuing rainfall may also disrupt traffic, transport services and normal daily activities in affected districts.
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