Chennai school holiday: Puducherry announces school holiday due to heavy rainfall in view of cyclone Ditwah. Check update on Tamil Nadu

Cyclone Ditwah weakened into a deep depression and caused extremely heavy rains in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Puducherry. IMD stated that it is very likely that as of December 1, the deep depression will move almost northward, parallel to the Northern Tamil Nadu-Puducherry coast, and will gradually weaken and turn into a depression around noon today. It was stated that the system will be centered over the southwestern Bay of Bengal at a minimum distance of 30 km on the morning of December 1.

According to news agency PTI, three people have died so far in rain-related incidents caused by Cyclone Ditwah in Tamil Nadu. Due to heavy rainfall in Tamil Nadu, schools in many regions were declared closed.

Cyclone Ditwah: Are schools closed in Tamil Nadu today?

According to Times Now, Home and Education Minister A Namassivayam said that both government and private schools in Puducherry will remain closed today, December 1. The Minister announced that schools were closed as a precaution, taking into account the heavy rains expected due to the impact of Cyclone Ditwah. Other regulations are followed by the administration.
ALSO READ: Chennai rain warning: Will Chennai schools remain closed on December 1 due to impact of cyclone ‘Ditwah’? What did IMD say in its latest weather update?

Districts in Tamil Nadu ordered closure of educational institutions. As of December 1, there is no official update regarding school closures today in Tamil Nadu and students are advised to contact the concerned school authorities for accurate update.

On November 29, colleges in various districts of Tamil Nadu were closed due to heavy rainfall in the state due to cyclone Ditwah. Authorities announced the precautionary closure after the India Meteorological Department (IMD) warned of very heavy to extremely heavy rain in many areas. According to TOI, on November 29, collectors in Trichy and Thanjavur declared holidays for schools, while Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam and Mayiladuthurai extended the closure to both schools and colleges, advising the institutions to postpone all private classes. Pudukkottai district likewise declared a holiday for all educational institutions and Bharathidasan University in Trichy postponed its scheduled exams. Schools in Villupuram were also closed as the administration prepared for heavy rain, possible floods and possible disruptions in transport and power lines.ALSO READ: Cyclone Ditwah tracker: Where and when will cyclone Ditwah make landfall? IMD warns of heavy rain in Andhra, Tamil Nadu and other states

Heavy rain warning in Andhra, Tamil Nadu

Due to the impact of the cyclone, the meteorological office has predicted heavy to very heavy rains in Tiruvallur, Ranipet, Kancheepuram, Chennai, Chengalpattu and Vellore districts in the next 24 hours. Heavy rains are likely to occur in isolated places over Tirupathur, Tiruvannamalai, Villupuram districts and Puducherry, it said.

Strong surface winds with speeds reaching 60-70 kmph and gusting to 80 kmph are expected to prevail in North Coast Tamil Nadu and Puducherry and south coastal Karaikal region. The sea state is likely to be high and is very likely to gradually improve by becoming very rough and rough by the morning of December 1 and then gradually improving thereafter, the bulletin said. While fishermen have been advised not to enter the sea, those in the sea have been advised to stay away from the southwestern Bay of Bengal, Gulf of Mannar, Comorin region and along and off the coast of Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, southern Andhra Pradesh until December 1.

(with PTI inputs)