Cyclone Ditwah: Are Chennai schools closed today? IMD issues orange alert for coastal Tamil Nadu
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for several coastal districts of Tamil Nadu, predicting heavy to very heavy rainfall on Monday, December 1, as a low-pressure system over the southwest Bay of Bengal intensifies.
In the wake of deep depression following Cyclonic Storm Ditwah, “heavy rainfall likely over Tamil Nadu, Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Yanam, Rayalaseema, Telangana” on 1 December, IMD said.
Are schools in Chennai closed?
Yes, schools and all educational institutions in Chennai, as well as other districts in Tamil Nadu, including Chengalpattu and Tiruvallur, will remain closed today, December 1.
The Tamil Nadu government has declared a holiday for all educational institutions in a preemptive move to ensure public safety after Cyclone Ditwah triggered intense rainfall and severe waterlogging.
The decision impacts students of all government, private, and aided schools across these regions.
Which Tamil Nadu districts are on high alert today?
The weather agency has placed multiple districts under a heightened state of alert. An orange alert is currently in effect for:
- Tiruvallur
- Chennai
- Kancheepuram
- Chengalpattu
- Mayiladuthurai
- Nagapattinam
- Tiruvarur
- Karaikal
The IMD also issued a yellow alert for the state, including Villuppuram, Cuddalore, Thanjavur, Pudukkottai, Ramanathapuram, Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli and Kanyakumari, forecasting isolated heavy rainfall.
Puducherry schools to remain closed today
As Puducherry braces for heavy rains expected under the influence of cyclone Ditwah, Education Minister A Namassivayam announced that schools, both government and private, in the four regions of the union territory will remain closed on Monday.
Fisherman warning
IMD issued a fisherman warning for Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coasts and the Comorin area, and in its weather bulletin stated, “Squally wind speed reaching 55-65 gusting to 75 kmph is prevailing, and it is likely to decrease gradually, becoming 45-55 gusting to 65 kmph by 1st December morning.”
As Tamil Nadu residents keenly wait for the storm to abate, sea conditions are expected to be rough until morning of 1 Decemberand gradually improve thereafter.
