CHENNAI: Heavy rain lashed Chennai and neighbouring districts overnight, prompting authorities to declare a holiday for schools in Chennai, Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram and Chengalpattu on Wednesday.Chennai collector S Malathi Helen and the collectors of the three neighbouring districts ordered the closures as a precautionary measure amid forecasts of further heavy showers.
The Regional Meteorological Centre reported significant rainfall across the city and adjoining districts.
According to the Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC), weather stations at Meenambakkam and Nungambakkam recorded more than 10cm of rainfall as of 6am on Wednesday. Several parts of the city, including Taramani, Villivakkam and Nandanam, also received moderate to heavy showers.A low-pressure area is likely to develop over the southwest Bay of Bengal and the adjoining Tamil Nadu coast, bringing heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places across Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal. The wet spell is expected to continue until Oct 26, while another low-pressure area may form over the Bay of Bengal around Oct 23.Meanwhile, the early-morning holiday announcement caught some government school kitchens off guard. Staff had begun preparing breakfast for students in Classes 1 to 8 under the Perunthalaivar Kamarajar Breakfast Scheme before the closure order was issued.“The holiday was declared only around 6am. We started preparing breakfast around 5.30am. We are looking to distribute it to conservancy workers,” a headmaster said.District authorities said any decision on Thursday’s closure would depend on the intensity of rainfall and a review of weather conditions on Wednesday.
