Chennai: The deep depression formed from Cyclone Ditwah, lingering close to the Chennai coast, unleashed torrential rainfall across the city and neighbouring districts overnight, recording up to 19 cm in Ennore over 13 hours and prompting authorities to issue a red alert for the next 24 hours. The intense weather has forced the postponement of Anna University semester exams and the closure of educational institutions in four districts today, December 2, Tuesday.
After a brief lull, heavy rains resumed early Tuesday, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) confirming the system’s proximity to Chennai. Private weather analyst Pradeep John, known as Tamil Nadu Weatherman, explained the severity on social media platform X: “Clouds with more powerful vertical growth are forming in the sea… The depression has the nature of attracting surrounding moist air very quickly. Since all these processes are happening very fast, it will rain suddenly without any prior warning.”
Chennai Rains: Holiday declared for Schools, Anna University exams postponed
Rainfall data released by the Greater Chennai Corporation highlights the impact: Ennore recorded 19 cm, while areas like Manali, Basin Bridge, and Vadapalani received between 12-16 cm. This has led to significant waterlogging and disruption.
In response, a red alert has been issued for Chennai and Tiruvallur districts. As a precaution, Anna University has postponed semester exams in Chennai, Tiruvallur, Kanchipuram, and Chengalpattu districts. All schools and colleges in these four districts have been declared closed for Thursday.
The sudden intensity of the rain has sparked criticism from various quarters, with allegations that inadequate advance forecasting left students and the public unprepared yesterday. Critics emphasized that more accurate and timely weather predictions could have mitigated the disruption, urging improvements in future meteorological forecasting.