Chennai heavy rain and intense showers in neighbouring northern districts prompted the closure of schools in Chennai, Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram and Chengalpattu on Wednesday, as the Regional Meteorological Centre forecast more downpours over the next 48 hours.
The showers began on Tuesday evening as the northeast monsoon remained vigorous over the region. The RMC said a low-pressure area was likely to form over the southwest Bay of Bengal, close to the Tamil Nadu coast, during the following 24 hours.
According to the latest bulletin, an upper-air cyclonic circulation that had been located over the southwest Bay of Bengal off the north Tamil Nadu coast had moved over the southwest Bay of Bengal and adjoining Tamil Nadu coast. The system was expected to support the formation of the low-pressure area.
The weather department forecast heavy to very heavy rain at isolated places in Chennai, Tiruvallur, Chengalpattu, Cuddalore, Villupuram, Thanjavur, Thiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Mayiladuthurai and Ramanathapuram districts. The forecast also covered Puducherry and Karaikal.
The school holiday covers four districts in and around the Chennai metropolitan region. The decision comes as sustained monsoon rain creates operational challenges for roads, public transport, drainage systems and neighbourhood services across the urban area. The report did not provide details on any disruption to train, metro or bus services.
As part of precautionary measures, the Greater Chennai Corporation said road patchwork was under way across all 15 corporation zones. The works are being carried out using concrete and tar mixtures at an estimated cost of Rs 21.80 crore, according to an official release.
The release said the works were being undertaken under the directives of Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay. It did not specify the number of road locations covered, the completion schedule or whether the repairs were linked to specific rain-related damage.
The civic body also distributed 6,000 food packets to rain-affected people in the Virugambakkam area on Wednesday morning. The distribution indicates that the rainfall had already affected residents in at least parts of the city, although the supplied report did not provide details about waterlogging, evacuation or relief camps.
The RMC’s 48-hour forecast places Chennai and several districts under continued heavy-rain risk while the anticipated low-pressure area develops near the Tamil Nadu coast. Authorities’ immediate response includes maintaining road access, providing food assistance and keeping schools closed in the affected districts.
