A school holiday has been declared in Chennai and 9 other districts as heavy rains continue to lash Tamil Nadu due to Cyclone Fengal. The rains, which began on Tuesday morning, have caused widespread disruptions across Chennai and its suburbs. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast more heavy rainfall in the region, which is expected to continue until Thursday, November 28.
The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) in Chennai reported that the depression over the southwest Bay of Bengal has intensified into a deep depression and is likely to strengthen into a cyclonic storm by Wednesday.
As a result of the anticipated heavy rainfall, school and college holidays have been declared in the following districts on Wednesday:
Schools Closed: Chennai
Chengalpattu
Schools and Colleges Closed: Puducherry
Karaikal
Cuddalore
Mayiladuthurai
Nagapattinam
Thiruvarur
Thanjavur
Thiruvallur
Villupuram
IndiGo Issues Travel AdvisoryIndiGo has issued a travel advisory, warning passengers about disruptions to flights traveling to and from Chennai, Tuticorin, and Madurai due to adverse weather conditions.
Red Alert Issued for Tamil NaduThe IMD has predicted that the depression will continue its north-northwest movement and intensify into a cyclonic storm on November 27. A red alert has been issued for extremely heavy rainfall in three central districts on November 26 and two districts on November 27. Additionally, Chennai will be under a yellow alert for heavy rainfall from November 27 to 29, with neighboring districts such as Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur, and Chengalpattu under yellow and orange alerts from November 27 to 30.
The IMD forecasts light to moderate rainfall at many places, along with thunderstorms and lightning at one or two locations, across Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Karaikal on November 27. On November 28, light to moderate rain is expected in coastal Tamil Nadu and a few interior areas, with thunderstorms and lightning also expected.