Chennai: Tamil Nadu government announced a holiday for schools in 23 districts due to the widespread heavy rainfall across the state. The overnight rainfall in Chennai has already put parts of the city underwater.
A holiday has been declared for schools and colleges in districts including Villupuram, Tiruvannamalai, Ramanathapuram, Tiruchi, Cuddalore, Pudukottai, Perambalur, Ariyalur and Kallakurichi. The schools and colleges of Chennai are also set to remain closed.
Puducherry administration has announced leave for schools and colleges of the UT including Karaikal regions on Friday and Saturday.
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In Chennai, the overnight rains have inundated arterial roads in places including Iyapanthangal, Pulianthope and Vyasarpadi.
The India Meteorological Department said, "Isolated heavy to very heavy rain with extremely heavy rain at one or two places is likely to occur over Tiruvallur, Ranipet and Kancheepuram districts. Heavy to very heavy rain is likely to occur at isolated places over Chennai,
Chengalpattu, Villupuram, Vellore, Tirupattur, Tiruvannamalai, Kallakurichi, Cuddalore, Ariyalur, Perambalur, Tiruchirappalli, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Mayiladuthurai, Nagapattinam districts, Puducherry and Karaikal."
"Heavy rain is likely to occur at isolated places over Dharmapuri, Salem, Namakkal, Karur, Pudukkottai, Sivaganga, Ramanathapuram, Virudhunagar, Madurai, Theni, Dindigul, Tiruppur, Coimbatore and Nilgiris districts of Tamilnadu," it said.
An independent weather blogger in Chennai who runs Chennai rains page said, "Widespread heavy #Rains likely over Coastal #TamilNadu from #Chennai to #Thoothukudi with the stretch between #Pondicherry & delta particularly vulnerable to very heavy rains. Chennai & suburbs will continue to see mod to heavy rains with breaks. #COMK #ChennaiRains #TNRains."