Chennai: Widespread heavy rainfall triggered by Cyclone Ditwah has disrupted normal life across Tamil Nadu, prompting authorities to declare holidays for educational institutions in six districts and postpone Anna University semester exams in Chennai as a precautionary measure.
The cyclone, which has since weakened into a severe depression near the Chennai coast, lashed several districts including Nagapattinam, Ramanathapuram, Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli (Nellai), Chennai, Tiruvallur, and Kanchipuram. The incessant downpour has led to significant waterlogging in low-lying areas, impacting daily activities and traffic movement.
In response to the ongoing adverse weather, district administrations have announced the following closures:
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Full Holiday (Schools & Colleges): Chennai, Kanchipuram, and Tiruvallur districts.
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Holiday for Schools Only: Chengalpattu, Villupuram, and Kallakurichi districts.
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Puducherry has also declared a holiday for schools.
Parents have been advised to ensure children remain safely at home. Additionally, all Anna University semester examinations scheduled for today in Chennai have been postponed. A new date will be announced shortly.
While Greater Chennai Corporation and other civic teams are actively engaged in clearing stagnant water, continuous rainfall is hampering efforts. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast that the depression will continue to bring light to moderate rainfall to many places, with isolated heavy spells, over coastal Tamil Nadu and Puducherry for the next 24 hours.