Schools, colleges to be closed in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry on October 16 as states brace for heavy rainfall

NEW DELHI: All schools and colleges will be closed tomorrow, October 16, in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Karaikal regions after the weather department forecast heavy rains in the coming days. For the coastal districts of Chennai, Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram, and Chengelpet, the Tamil Nadu state government declared October 16 a holiday for schools, colleges and government offices, barring essential services, in view of forecast of heavy rainfall.

The Tamil Nadu government, in its advisory, asked private establishments to facilitate 'work from home' option for their employees. The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) said the low pressure area over the Bay of Bengal turned on October 15 into a well-marked low pressure area and it is likely to become a depression.

"Under its influence, widespread rainfall with isolated heavy to very heavy rain occurred over Tamil Nadu and moderate rain occurred over Puducherry and Karaikal during the past 24 hours," a RMC bulletin here said. Furthermore, the RMC said isolated heavy to very heavy rain is likely in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal during the next three days with extremely heavy rain at one or two places during the next two days (October 16 and 17).

Home minister A Namassivayam said all the privately managed institutions and government aided schools would also be shut tomorrow. Schools and colleges in the two regions were closed on Tuesday in view of the heavy rains.

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Meanwhile, Lt Governor K Kailashnathan reviewed the steps taken by the government machinery in the context of the current rain in the Union Territory. He was briefed by the officials of the Department of Revenue and Disaster Management on the measures taken to ensure that relief and rehabilitation works would be geared up in Puducherry and Karaikal regions.

Collector A Kulothungan said in a release that control rooms and relief camps have been opened in Puducherry and Karaikal regions. He said the Lt Governor was apprised of the preparedness of the 62 teams of personnel of National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF) who reached here on Monday from Arokonam. The government has made all arrangements to rise to any exigency.

(With inputs from PTI)