The Tamil Nadu government has declared a holiday for schools and colleges in Chennai, Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram, and Chengalpattu districts on October 15. This decision was made during a review meeting chaired by Chief Minister MK Stalin on Monday, October 14. The Chief Minister also directed authorities to issue an advisory for IT companies in these districts to allow employees to work from home from October 15 to 18, according to an official release.
Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin stated, “We are fully prepared for the monsoon rains. The CM has announced holidays for schools in Chennai and Tiruvallur as we expect heavy rains tomorrow. We have issued work-from-home orders (for private companies) so that people do not travel.”
During the meeting, the Chennai Corporation Commissioner reported that 990 pumps, 57 tractors with pump sets, 36 motorboats, 46 metric tons of bleach powder, 25 metric tons of lime powder, and phenol are ready. Additionally, 169 camp offices, cooking spaces, 59 JCBs, 272 tree cutters, 176 water drainers, 130 generators, and 115 lorries are on standby as part of monsoon preparedness. Similarly, district collectors from Tiruvallur, Chengalpattu, and Kanchipuram outlined the precautionary measures taken in their respective districts.
IMD issues Red alert warning for Tamil Nadu
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported that a low-pressure area formed over the southeast Bay of Bengal at 0530 hrs IST on October 14, 2024. It is expected to become a well-marked low-pressure area and move northwestwards towards north Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and adjoining south Andhra Pradesh coasts over the next two days. “Isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall is expected over Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Karaikal between October 12-16, with the most intense downpours likely on October 14-15. An orange alert has been issued from October 14-16,” the weather department stated.
On Sunday, the weather department forecast heavy rains over several districts in the state for October 14, including Dharmapuri, Salem, Nilgiris, Erode, Namakkal, Ariyalur, Perambalur, Tiruchirapalli, Karur, Tiruppur, Coimbatore, Dindigul, Pudukkottai, Nagapattinam, Sivagangai, and Ramanathapuram. It also predicted heavy rains at isolated places over Villupuram, Cuddalore, Ariyalur, Perambalur, Mayiladuthurai, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Pudukkottai, Nagapattinam, Puducherry, and Karaikal.
Chennai and its neighboring regions are also expected to receive heavy to very heavy rainfall as the northeast monsoon is likely to set in by October 15 or 16, according to the IMD. The withdrawal of the southwest monsoon has progressed rapidly and is anticipated to end within the next four days, making way for the much-awaited northeast monsoon.
The IMD has reported a cyclonic circulation over the southeast Bay of Bengal and the adjoining equatorial Indian Ocean. This weather system is expected to evolve into a low-pressure area over the central parts of the south Bay of Bengal by Monday, October 14. It is likely to intensify into a well-marked low-pressure system and move northwestwards towards the northern Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and southern Andhra Pradesh coastlines within the subsequent 48 hours, bringing significant rainfall to the region.
